Regional Development Agencies (Representation)

Diane Abbott: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what assessment she has made of the representation of black and ethnic minority women on the boards of regional development agencies.

Margaret Hodge: I have been asked to reply.
	At present three of RDA board members areblack or ethnic minority women, which represents2.5 per cent. of total representation.
	The Department is fully committed to strengthening the diversity of the RDA boards. Each year awareness-raising events are run and information is distributed to appropriate organisations and other interested bodies in the regions. All of the material for these posts stresses that these appointments are made on merit and that applications from women, those from ethnic minority backgrounds and the disabled would be particularly welcome.

Compensation Claims (Handling Services)

John Mann: To ask the Solicitor-General whether the Treasury Solicitor's Department has negotiated with companies providing claims handling services, rather than solicitors, when dealing with compensation claims against Government Departments in connection with their role as employers since 1997.

Mike O'Brien: The Treasury Solicitor's Department does not maintain a central record of claimants' representatives. Whether or not a claimant was represented by a company providing claims handling services, rather than by solicitors, can therefore only be ascertained by retrieving the relevant files and examining the correspondence in order to discover the identity of each claimant's representative. Such an exercise would be labour intensive and would be at a disproportionate cost.

Departmental Expenditure

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Solicitor-General if he will list the 10 non-public sector entities that have received the largest total sum of payments from his Department in each of the last five years.

Mike O'Brien: I am answering this question on behalf of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), the Treasury Solicitors Department (TSol) and the Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office (RCPO). Returns for HMCPS Inspectorate and my own office are included in the figures for the Treasury Solicitors Department.
	The last five years have been taken to be the financial years from 2001-02 to 2005-06.
	Payments are taken to mean disbursements (and the value of any other consideration) for goods and services provided under a contract. Office of Government Commerce (OGC) understands that payments of grants, credits and subsidies under statutory obligations for which the department is responsible are out of scope.
	 CPS
	 2001-02
	Land Securities Property Ltd
	Bull Integris
	Workplace by Design Ltd
	Damovo UK Ltd
	Ericsson Ltd
	Banner Business Supplies Ltd
	Jones Lang Ltd
	Global Crossing Ltd
	Partity Resources Ltd
	Planned Maintenance Engineering Ltd
	 2002-03
	Logica UK Ltd
	Land Securities Property Ltd
	Damovo UK Ltd
	Ikon Office Solutions PLC
	Planned Maintenance Engineering Ltd
	Jones Lang Ltd
	Banner Business Supplies Ltd
	Xerox Business Services Ltd
	Donaldsons LLP
	Raytheon UK Ltd
	 2003-04
	Logica UK Ltd
	Land Securities Property Ltd
	Damovo UK Ltd
	Ikon Office Solutions PLC
	Xerox Business Services Ltd
	Planned Maintenance Engineering Ltd
	Capita Business Services Ltd
	Donaldsons LLP
	Banner Business Supplies Ltd
	Jones Lang Ltd
	 2004-05
	Logica UK Ltd
	Land Securities Property Ltd
	Damovo UK Ltd
	Ikon Office Solutions PLC
	Planned Maintenance Engineering Ltd
	Mckesson Information Solutions Ltd
	Xerox (UK) Ltd
	Banner Business Supplies Ltd
	Donaldsons LLP
	Law Society
	 2005-06
	Logica UK Ltd
	Land Securities Property Ltd
	Damovo UK Ltd
	Xerox (UK) Ltd
	Law Society
	DX Network Services Ltd
	Mckesson Information Solutions
	DTZ Debenham Tie Leung
	Donaldsons LLP
	Cofathec Heatsave Ltd
	 SFO
	 2001-02
	Ballamy Woodhouse
	Cenutacenter UK Ltd
	Mr Charles Miskin QC
	Grant Thomton
	Anthony Hacking QC
	Hogg Robinson (Travel) Ltd
	IBM UK Ltd
	Michael Page UK Ltd
	RSM Robson Rhodes LLP
	VBA Temple QC
	 2002-03
	Ballamy Woodhouse
	Computacentre UK Ltd
	Forensic Accounting LLP
	Anthony Hacking QC
	IBM UK Ltd
	Logica CMG UK Ltd
	Oyez Legal Technologies
	PKF
	RSM Robson Rhodes LLP
	Safestem Ltd
	 2003-04
	Ballamy Woodhouse
	Anthony Donne QC
	Forensic Accounting LLP
	IBM UK Ltd
	Logica CMG UK Ltd
	PKF
	RSM Robson Rhodes LLP
	RWM Data Management Ltd
	Safestem Ltd
	VBA Temple QC
	 2004-05
	Ballamy Woodhouse
	Computacentre (UK) Ltd
	Courtyard Contracting Services
	Forensic Accounting LLP
	IBM United Kingdom Ltd
	Logica UK Ltd
	Palm Estates
	PKF
	RSM Robson Rhodes
	RWM Data Management
	 2005-06
	Ballamy Woodhouse
	Computacentre (UK) Ltd
	Forensic Accounting LLP
	IBM United Kingdom Ltd
	Legal Inc Ltd
	Logica UK Ltd
	Palm Estates
	PKF
	RSM Robson Rhodes LLP
	RWM Data Management
	 TSOL
	 2001-02
	Adecco UK Ltd
	Badenoch & Clark
	Denton Wilde Sapte
	Staple Inn Recruitment Ltd
	Hedra Ltd Cathedral Consortium
	Opus Personnel (City) Ltd
	Williams Lea Facilities Management Ltd
	Consult Rs Ltd
	Elan Computing Ltd
	Computacenter (UK) Ltd
	 2002-03
	Adecco UK Ltd
	Denton Wilde Sapte
	Badenoch & Clark
	Hedra Ltd Cathedral Consortium
	Staple Inn Recruitment Ltd
	Elan Computing Ltd
	Opus Personnel (City) Ltd
	Consult Rs Ltd
	Simmons & Simmons
	National Westminster Bank Plc
	 2003-04
	Denton Wilde Sapte
	Badenoch & Clark
	Adecco UK Ltd
	Masons Solicitors
	Solicitec Ltd
	National Westminster Bank Plc
	Field Fisher Waterhouse
	Elan Computing Ltd
	Staple Inn Recruitment Ltd
	Opus Personnel (City) Ltd
	 2004-05
	Badenoch & Clark
	National Westminster Bank PLC
	Adecco UK Ltd
	Lexisnexis Europe/UK Ltd
	Elan Computing Ltd.
	Opus Personnel (City) Ltd
	Staple Inn Recruitment Ltd
	Field Fisher Waterhouse
	Amtec Consulting Ltd
	Turner & Townsend
	 2005-06
	Herman Miller Ltd
	Badenoch & Clark
	Adecco UK Ltd
	Lexisnexis Europe/UK Ltd
	Amtec Consulting Ltd
	National Westminster Bank PLC
	Elan Computing Limited
	Dell Computer Corporation Ltd
	Angela Mortimer Plc
	Staple Inn Recruitment Ltd
	 RCPO( 1)
	 2005-06
	Mapeley
	Fujitsu
	Kroll Ontrack Legal Technologies Ltd
	Mr. Philip Singer QC
	Mr. Peter Clarke QC
	Sir Derek Spencer QC
	Oliver Sells QC
	Mr. Mukul Chawla QC
	Mr. Michael Brompton QC
	Mr. Nigel Ingram
	(1) RCPO only came into existence on 18 April 2005

Air Industry

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions he has had with  (a) the Secretary of State for Defence and  (b) others on the impact of proposals in the Defence Industrial Strategy on the air industry sector.

Margaret Hodge: My right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, as Chairof the Cabinet Committee on Restructuring of the European Aerospace and Defence Industry, held meetings in October 2005 and December 2005 with the Defence Secretary, Chief Secretary, Foreign Secretary, Minister for Defence Procurement and Minister for Industry and the Regions which included discussion on the impact of proposals in the Defence Industrial Strategy on the UK's Defence Aerospace Industrial Sector.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State also regularly meets senior industrialists of aerospace and defence companies and has discussed aspects of the Defence Industrial Strategy with them.
	The Department of Trade and Industry regards the Defence Industrial Strategy as vital to the future of the UK's defence industrial base. It establishes a long-run strategy to promote a sustainable base in the UK of those industrial capabilities needed to ensure appropriate sovereignty and to provide companies with greater clarity of future equipment needs which allows them to plan UK investment effectively.

Coal Prices

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what his Department's most recent estimate is of the difference between the sale price of domestic deep-mined coal and the international Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Antwerp coal price.

Malcolm Wicks: The available data relate to steam coal (the coal suitable for use in steam boilers, e.g. a coal-fired power station). About 50 per cent. of UK domestic production of steam coal is deep-mined.
	In Q4 2005 the domestic steam coal price paid by UK generators (who account for some 80 per cent. of total coal usage) was approximately £1.3/tonne higher than the international coal price(1), although in the past it has been up to £12.2/tonne lower.
	The following table shows the evolution of the UK steam coal and international prices since 2000. As can be seen, the domestic price has been relatively more stable over the period.
	(1) "Commodity Insurance Freight" price for coal with sulphur content less than 1 per cent. imported in north-west Europe; also referred to as Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) coal price (25GJ/tonne gross calorific value).
	
		
			   ARA price (£/tonne)  Prices received by UK coal producers for sales to generators 
			 2000 Q1 18.5 28.6 
			  Q2 21.4 27.9 
			  Q3 23.2 28.2 
			  Q4 27.1 28.0 
			 2001 Q1 26.9 27.6 
			  Q2 28.1 28.6 
			  Q3 25.4 28.6 
			  Q4 23.1 28.4 
			 2002 Q1 22.2 28.2 
			  Q2 19.4 28.4 
			  Q3 16.9 27.5 
			  Q4 20.8 27.1 
			 2003 Q1 20.8 26.7 
			  Q2 20.3 25.8 
			  Q3 25.4 25.7 
			  Q4 33.6 25.3 
			 2004 Q1 35.0 25.7 
			  Q2 36.2 27.6 
			  Q3 39.6 27.4 
			  Q4 38.3 26.8 
			 2005 Q1 33.5 26.8 
			  Q2 32.8 29.6 
			  Q3 31.8 30.0 
			  Q4 28.7 30.0 
			  Source:  DTI.

Departmental Credit Cards

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what facility is available for senior civil servants in his Department to use credit cards supplied by the Department.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department makes available to appropriate staff a Government Procurement card (GPC), operated under the OGC buying solutions pre-tendered National Framework for the Government in line with best practice.
	In addition, a separate facility is available to staff who can demonstrate a need for booking hotel and associated costs.
	Each of these facilities is available to senior civil servants and other staff according to need.

Departmental Staff

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many  (a) EU foreign nationals and  (b) non-EU foreign nationals have been employed in his Department in each of the last five years; what vetting procedures are in place for each category of staff; and whether these include liaison with foreign law enforcement agencies.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department of Trade and Industry does not hold information on EU foreign nationals and non-EU foreign nationals centrally.
	The Department's recruitment procedures require all candidates for employment to comply with the civil service nationality rules.
	Furthermore, all staff who require security clearance for their posts in the Department are subject to the Department's procedures for security vetting and comply with the policy set out by Parliament by the then Prime Minister on 15 December 1994, which came into force on 1 January 1995.

Eid-Ul-Adha

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many staff from his Department attended the Civil Service Islamic Society Eid-Ul-Adha event in London in 2005; and what the total cost was to his Department of their attendance.

Jim Fitzpatrick: My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has written to the hon. Member with details of the Civil Service Islamic Society Eid-Ul-Adha event. A copy of the letter has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Energy Review

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent progress has been made with the energy review.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government published a consultation document on 23 January this year. The consultation document—'Our Energy Challenge, Securing clean and affordable energy for the long term'—invited responses on the important energy policy issues facing the country to be considered in the current Energy Review.
	Some 5,300 responses were received from members of the public, business, academia, NGOs and others. We are assessing the enormous amount of evidence received in response to the Energy Review consultation and the review will report in the summer.

Foreign Travel

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much was spent on foreign travel by his Department in each of the last eight years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The total amount spent on foreign travel by DTI in each of the last eight years was:
	
		
			   Amount (£) 
			 1998-99 5,019,971 
			 1999-2000 5,291,063 
			 2001-01 5,470,024 
			 2001-02 4,912,785 
			 2002-03 5,583,825 
			 2003-04 4,260,257 
			 2004-05 5,483,903 
			 2005-06 5,601,629

Gaming Machines

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many gaming machines manufactured in the UK were exported in each year since 2001.

Margaret Hodge: Information is not available in the form requested.
	The following data give the total value of UK exports of coin- or disc-operated games, other than bowling alley equipment.
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Amount 
			 2001 165.1 
			 2002 126.5 
			 2003 126.7 
			 2004 131.4 
			 2005 120.6 
			  Source: Overseas Trade Statistics

Illegal Immigrants

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many illegal immigrants have been discovered to be employed by his Department in each year since 2001; in what capacities they were employed; how many were discovered as part of a criminal investigation; and what the nature of the charges brought against them were.

Jim Fitzpatrick: To my knowledge there have been no illegal immigrants discovered to be employed by the Department since 2001.

Light Fittings (Hazardous Substances)

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what advice he has issued to electrical  (a) retailers and  (b) wholesalers on the sale of existing stocks of non-electrical light fittings in advance of the Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2005, S.I. 2005, No. 2748, coming into force on 1 July 2006.

Malcolm Wicks: The DTI published Government Guidance Notes on the impact of these regulations in October 2005, following their issues in draft for public consultation in July 2004.

Light Fittings (Hazardous Substances)

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from the European Commission on the implementation of the Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2005, S.I. 2005, No. 2748, in respect of non-electrical components of light fittings; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: None. The Department has not received any representations from the European Commission on these regulations.

Littlecombe/Dursley Hydroscheme

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State forTrade and Industry on what grounds the SouthWest Regional Development Authority and its developer have withdrawn the hydroscheme from the Littlecombe/Dursley site.

Margaret Hodge: The Littlecombe site at Dursley is the subject of a development agreement between the South West of England Regional Development Agency (South West RDA) and St. Modwens (the developer). The agreement requires the developer to carry out a whole series of activities in order to obtain planning permission for the regeneration scheme and deliver that scheme on the ground, either directly or through third parties (mostly residential developers). Agreement has to be reached with South West RDA on key issues.
	Among other matters, St. Modwens are required to investigate and, where appropriate, incorporate various sustainability measures in their designs. In particular they are intending to reduce the CO2 impact of the scheme by 30 per cent. through the use of renewable energy sources. The scope for micro hydro-electric power generation (HEP) was considered by the developer in this context.
	These investigations showed that the HEP scheme would not be economical—it would only produce enough electricity for two houses. In addition, the Environment Agency had concerns over the impact of the scheme and was not supportive. The South West RDA agreed with St. Modwen that HEP would not be pursued.
	St. Modwen anticipate biomass district heating, ground heat loops and photovoltaic cells being incorporated into the scheme in order to achieve a30 per cent. CO2 reduction.

Myalgic Encephalopathy/Encephalomyelitis

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research he has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated into genetic abnormalities in white blood cells of myalgic encephalopathy and encephalomyelitis sufferers; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department supports medical and clinical research through the Medical Research Council (MRC) which welcomes high quality proposals in these areas.
	The MRC is not currently supporting any research specifically into genetic abnormalities in the white blood cells of sufferers from either myalgic encephalopathy or encephalomyelitis.

Nuclear Power Stations

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what planning permission would be required to build new nuclear power stations on existing sites in  (a) England and Wales and  (b) Scotland.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 5 June 2006
	Any new proposal over 50 MW in England and Wales would require consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 and "deemed" planning permission under section 90 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. For Scotland similar powers are exercised by Scottish Ministers.

Nuclear Power Stations

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research his Department has undertaken into the likely effects on coastally located licensed nuclear sites of  (a) coastal erosion and  (b) inundation due to sea level rise.

Malcolm Wicks: The Office of Science and Technology (OST) has conducted a major study on the future of flooding and coastal erosion as part of the Foresight Programme, http://www.foresight.gov.uk/Previous_Projects/Flood_and_Coastal Defence/index.html.
	Operators of nuclear sites such as British Nuclear Group and British Energy are responsible for flood defences and for protecting the site against coastal erosion. Nearly all of the sites are situated on the coast and rest behind sea defences, which are maintained to a very high standard. Reviews are made periodically to monitor long-term protection, and regional shoreline management plans have been developed on behalf of the coastal authorities.

Nuclear Power Stations

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many jobs the Department estimates will be created as a result of the decommissioning of and clean-up operations for Wylfa nuclear power station; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has responsibility for the decommissioning and clean-up of the UK's historic nuclear legacy—including the Magnox nuclear power station at Wylfa.
	The current NDA expectation is that Wylfa will close at the end of 2010. Wylfa's plans for decommissioning and clean-up are still in preparation and job requirements have not yet been finalised. But in preparation for the defuelling and decommissioning phase of care and maintenance the NDA have prepared indicative numbers (derived from Wylfa's current plans) which indicate that at the end of operations job numbers (both staff and subcontractors) will be about 700 by 2010, reducing to 160 by 2024. In so far as is practicable the NDA will seek to ensure that employees who wish to stay with a site through to its next phase are able to remain in employment and receive appropriate support, development, and retraining. Subcontractors currently providing site support are expected to continue to do so during the defuelling and decommissioning phases. On this basis there are unlikely to be significant new opportunities for employment.

Nuclear Power Stations

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which  (a) nuclear power stations and  (b) nuclear waste storage sites his Department assesses to be at risk from (i) sea-level rise, (ii) coastal erosion,(iii) seawater inundation and (iv) storm surges in the next (A) 10, (B) 20 and (C) 50 years; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) license all nuclear power stations under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965. Flood risks, which are enhanced by coastal erosion, are one category of external hazards that HSE require to be addressed in safety cases for nuclear plants.
	Safety cases are prepared by the plant operator. They are routinely reviewed through the Periodic Safety Review (PSR) Process, which allows for recent and future extrapolations to be reviewed. They are scrutinised and then reviewed periodically (at intervals not greater than 10 years) by HSE. This provides an opportunity to ensure that operators are updating their predictions. The cost of HSE reviewing safety cases is recovered from the industry.
	The Office of Science and Technology (OST) has conducted a major study for the Foresight programme on the future of coastal erosion:
	http://www. foresight. gov.uk/Previous_Projects/Flood_and_Coastal_Defence/index.html
	The study looked ahead into the next 30-100 years and considered the future risks from flooding and costal erosion. Future predicted erosion rates were found to be location specific, and are likely to be extremely variable.
	The following coastal defence work is taking place, or is proposed, in the proximity of nuclear power plants:
	At Berkley, Gloucestershire, a proposed sea wall repair will provide protection for 25 years. At Dungeness, Kent, a beach-feeding programme is routinely undertaken to protect the foreshore and is likely to b maintained until at least 2018 (when Dungeness B is expected to end). Long term management options for the area adjacent to the power station is under consideration.
	At Hartlepool, a proposal to extend a marine cycling facility navigation channel may require that the coastal defences of the power station be reinforced. Discussions with the developer are underway.
	At Sizewell B, Suffolk, the frontage of the adjacent Minsmere Bird Reserve is not secure and long tern management options are being considered.
	The UK Atomic Energy Authority and British Energy have confirmed that there are no foreseeable risks to their nuclear power station or nuclear storage sites from sea level rises, coastal erosion, seawater inundation and storm surges.

Nuclear Power Stations

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment has been made of the effects of future possible  (a) sea-level rise and  (b) coastal erosion at (i) existing and (ii) potential nuclear sites; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) license all nuclear power stations under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965. Flood risks, which are enhanced by coastal erosion, are one category of external hazards that HSE require to be addressed in safety cases for nuclear plants.
	Safety cases are prepared by the plant operator, They are routinely reviewed through the Periodic Safety Review (PSR) process, which allows for recent and future extrapolations to be reviewed. They are scrutinised and then reviewed periodically (at intervals not greater than 10 years) by HSE. This provides an opportunity to ensure that operators are updating their predictions. The cost of HSE reviewing safety cases is recovered from the industry.
	The Office of Science and Technology (OST)has conducted a major study for the Foresight programme on the future of coastal erosion;
	http://www.foresight.gov.uk/Previous_Projects/Flood_and_Coastal_Defence/index.html
	The study looked ahead into the next 30-100 years and considered the future risks from flooding and costal erosion. Future predicted erosion rates were found to be location specific, and are likely to be extremely variable.
	The following coastal defence work is taking place, or is proposed, in the proximity of nuclear power plants:
	At Berkley, Gloucestershire, a proposed sea wall repair will provide protection for 25 years. At Dungeness, Kent, a beach-feeding programme is routinely undertaken to protect the foreshore and is likely to b maintained until at least 2018 (when Dungeness B is expected to end). Long-term management options for the area adjacent to the power station is under consideration.
	At Hartlepool, a proposal to extend a marine cycling facility navigation channel may require that the coastal defences of the power station be reinforced. Discussions with the developer are under way.
	At Sizewell B, Suffolk, the frontage of the adjacent Minsmere Bird Reserve is not secure and long tern management options are being considered.
	The UK Atomic Energy Authority and British Energy have confirmed that there are no foreseeable risks to their nuclear power station or nuclear storage sites from sea level rises, coastal erosion, seawater inundation and storm surges.
	As regards to potential nuclear sites, the role of civil nuclear power including safety, cost, decommissioning and waste is being considered as part of the Energy Review alongside other options to ensure the UK remains on track to meet its medium and long-term energy policy goals. The Energy Review will report in the summer.

Nuclear Power Stations

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what incidents at nuclear power installations in the United Kingdom that have been reported to Ministers by the Health and Safety Executive since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: There have been 57 incidents at nuclear power stations since 1997, which met the ministerial reporting criteria. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) publish details of these incidents in their quarterly statements.
	Quarterly statements of nuclear incidents at nuclear installations from 1 October 2000 are available on the HSE website at:
	http://www.hse.gov.uk/nuclear/quarterly-stat/index.htm
	Hard copies of quarterly statements from 1 January 1997 and September 2000 have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Pensions

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will estimate the pension liability of his Department over the next 30 years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I refer the hon. Member to a technical note by HM Treasury which was placed in the Libraries of the House on 2 March 2006,  Official Report, columns 388-90W, following an oral statement by the then Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Pension liabilities are not estimated for individual departments, they are estimated for individual pension schemes, as shown in the breakdown of liabilities per pension scheme given in Table 1 of the technical note.

Post Offices

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices there are in Scotland; and how many there were in each of the last eight years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Post Office Ltd have provided the following figures relating to the numbers of post offices branches in Scotland since 1998:
	
		
			  Period: end March  Number of post office branches 
			 1998 2,051 
			 1999 2,026 
			 2000 1,999 
			 2001 1,933 
			 2002 1,907 
			 2003 1,887 
			 2004 1,810 
			 2005 1,712 
			 2006 1,688 
		
	
	Information relating to post office branches for each parliamentary constituency is placed in the Libraries of the House on an annual basis.

Royal Commission on the Press

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State forTrade and Industry if he will list recommendations from the Royal Commission on the Press whichwere  (a) accepted,  (b) implemented in legislation and  (c) rejected; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: This information is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Small Business Research Initiative

Kitty Ussher: To ask the Secretary of State forTrade and Industry pursuant to the written statement of 16 February 2006,  Official Report, column 121WS, on the Small Business Research Initiative, what definition of research is used for the purposes of the initiative; how many of the contracts relate to science-based research; and if he will list the contracts awarded and their values.

Margaret Hodge: My right hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, South and Penarth (Alun Michael) set out the definition of Research and Development (R and D) in guidelines placed in the Libraries of the House on16 February 2006. The guidelines on the Meaning ofR and D for Tax Purposes (issued by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on 5 March 2004 for the purposes of section 837A Income and Corporation Taxes 1988) apply. In addition, however, policy studies and R and D directed towards the humanities and social studies will also be included.
	As my right hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, South and Penarth (Alun Michael), said in response to the hon. Member for North Norfolk (Norman Lamb) on 16 November 2005,  Official Report, column 1341W, the Government are taking steps to improve disclosure of Small Business Research Initiative performance by Departments. However, this will be at an aggregate level and on an annual basis. Information about individual contracts is a matter for the individual Departments concerned.

Uranium

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent assessment he has made of the security of future uranium supplies.

Malcolm Wicks: I refer the hon. Member to thereply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Crosby (Mrs. Curtis-Thomas) on 10 May 2006,  Official Report, column 268W.

Vehicle Sharing

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what incentives his Department offers to encourage staff to share vehicles when travelling to work.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department's buildings are predominately in city centre locations. It therefore does not offer any specific incentives to share vehicles when travelling to and from work but instead actively encourages the use of public transport. Such incentives include interest free loans for the purchase of season tickets and a scheme to encourage the use of bicycles to travel to work.

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Prime Minister how many (a) letters and  (b) postcards he has received from (i) members of the public, (ii) hon. Members and (iii) Members of the House of Lords about abortion; how many and what percentage (A) support and (B) oppose abortion; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: Since 1 January 2006 my office has received appropriately 6,000 representations about this issue. Given the volume of correspondence I receive, thousands of letters each week covering a broad spectrum of issues, my office records letters by subject rather than by the view expressed.

Chequers (Official Appointments)

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister with which individuals, other than officials, hon. Members and staff he had a scheduled official appointment at Chequers, other than at official dinners, between 1 July 2003 and 31 December 2003.

Tony Blair: My officials and I have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals on a wide range of subjects. Information relating to internal meetings, discussion and advice is not disclosed as to do so could harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion.

Departmental Staff

David Simpson: To ask the Prime Minister what incentives are available to encourage members of his staff to use public transport for travelling to and from work.

Tony Blair: For these purposes my office forms part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office(Mr. McFadden) today.

Official Residences

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  if he will list the official residences occupied by Members of the Government; whether each is open to the public; and what restrictions apply to public access in each case;
	(2)  if he will make it his policy to increase opportunities for members of the public to view the interior of Dorneywood; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  if he will make arrangements for the publicto view  (a) Chequers,  (b) Chevening and  (c) Dorneywood at times and on dates that do not inconvenience the Ministers who have use of the properties; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: I refer my hon. Friend to the answers I gave the hon. Member for Eastleigh (Chris Huhne) on 13 July 2005,  Official Report, column 1074W and the hon. Member for Shipley (Philip Davies) on 16 March 2006,  Official Report, column 2394W.
	Since then my right hon. Friend the Member for Derby South (Margaret Beckett) has moved jobs, but remains in her official residences. My right hon. Friend the Member for Ashfield (Geoff Hoon) has also moved jobs and, as has already been announced, will be vacating his Government-owned residence shortly.
	My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has announced his personal decision that he no longer wishes to have the use of Dorneywood.
	There is no public access to Chequers for security reasons. There is no right of public access to the houses at Chevening and Dorneywood. The garden at Chevening is on occasion opened to the public for charitable events (this is a matter for the Trustees). The garden at Dorneywood is opened to the public under the National Gardens Scheme at various times during the year.

Witness Statements

Alan Duncan: To ask the Prime Minister what sanctions are available under  (a) the Ministerial Code and  (b) the Civil Service Code against someone who, when providing a witness statement in support of an application to the High Court by a Secretary of State, (i) withholds information which is material to the Court's consideration of the application and (ii) includes in his statement information which he knows to be false or misleading.

Tony Blair: Section 1 of the Ministerial Code sets out the process for handling alleged breaches of the ministerial code. Departmental staff handbooks will set out the procedures for handling alleged breaches of the civil service code.

Parliamentary Calendar

Andrew MacKay: To ask the Leader of the House what plans he has to review the parliamentary calendar.

Nigel Griffiths: My right hon. Friend remainsopen to representations on issues relating to the parliamentary calendar.

Parliamentary Questions

Peter Bone: To ask the Leader of the House what steps he is taking to improve the speed and accuracy of answers to written parliamentary questions.

Jack Straw: All Ministers fully understand the requirement for timeliness and accuracy in providing answers to written questions. I have discussed at Cabinet with my ministerial colleagues the importance we attach to proper accountability to Parliament. My Office helps to ensure that the standards are adhered to and Mr. Speaker knows my own commitment to this.
	At the same time, the House must accept that there has been an ever increasing number of written questions being tabled. Not all perhaps are tabled with the full involvement of the Member in whose name they are tabled and some perhaps may be inspired by outside pressure to be seen to be tabling a high number. This inevitably places the system under pressure.

Bovine TB

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been made by his Department of the  (a) movements,  (b) relocation and  (c) displacement of protected species, with particular reference to badgers, resulting from work by transport infrastructure companies required for (i) health and safety, (ii) environmental and (iii) other reasons; and whether badgers relocated in such circumstances are routinely tested for bovine tuberculosis.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 5 June 2006
	Defra issues licences to allow the interference with badger setts to prevent serious damage to property, and to permit agricultural, forestry or drainage operations. The majority of licences involve interference to exclude badgers from part or all of a sett, sometimes followed by sett destruction. Very few licences for translocation of badgers are granted. Some licensed activities include maintenance works undertaken by transport infrastructure companies.
	Badgers typically have more than one sett which they use in their territory. Thus there is no reason to believe that the closure, or partial closure, of a sett would necessarily cause badgers to move outside their normal range. My Department has commissioned a study which involves looking at badger movements when licensed sett interference is carried out in urban situations. However it is too early to draw any conclusions from this work which is currently under way.
	Defra's wildlife management advisers ensure that a proportion of licences is assessed through monitoring. The method, timing and amount of monitoring will vary depending upon a number of factors such as the species, site or activities being licensed. Defra aims to monitor around 30 per cent. of badger licences; a proportion of these will be targeted towards sensitive or complex cases such as those involving translocation or cases that have attracted a high level of public attention. The results of monitoring are recorded and if a breach of licence conditions has been identified Defra will consider an appropriate course of enforcement action.
	English Nature issues licences to permit the disturbance of badgers and destruction of setts during the course of development activities, which would include some activities associated with the maintenance of transport infrastructure. English Nature does not licence the translocation of animals in these cases—it licences disturbance to setts, and where setts are to be lost as a result of the activity the licence allows animals to be excluded from the sett before it is destroyed. Where no suitable alternative setts are available nearby for the badgers to move to, an artificial sett must be constructed within the animals' existing territory, before they are excluded from their existing sett. No significant movement of badgers is likely to result from these activities.
	In the very few cases where Defra has licensed the translocation of badgers to another part of the country, it has been a condition of the licence that all badgers caught must be tested for bTB.

Environmental Liability Directive

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the scope of the Environmental Liability Directive, without extension of its scope in implementing legislation, is  (a) wider and  (b) narrower than the(i) Environmental Protection Act 1990: Part I Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations (England and Wales) 2000 and Environmental Protection Act 1990: Part II, (ii) Water Resources Act 1991, (iii) Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, as amended by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 and (iv) Environmental Protection Act 1990: Part IIA.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 5 June 2006
	The question is a difficult one to respond to meaningfully. The reference domestic legislation and the ELD are not directly or entirely comparable. The ELD, unlike the Pollution Prevention and Control or Waste legislation, is not a regulatory regime—there are no initial compliance costs; it imposes costs only when a business causes significant environmental damage. The legislation dealing with EU and domestic biodiversity provides a much more limited framework for liability for remediation than the ELD. The contaminated land (part IIA, Environmental Protection Act 1990) regime has some overlapping features with the ELD and can deal with current damage, but it is largely concerned with historic damage, which is outside the scope ofthe ELD.

Farmers

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people were employed in  (a) dairy farming,  (b) beef farming,  (c) sheep farming,  (d) arable farming,  (e) mixed farming and  (f) other forms of farming in Gloucestershire in (i) 1980, (ii) 1990, (iii) 2000 and(iv) 2005.

Barry Gardiner: The number of employees on holdings by farm type in Gloucestershire are as follows:
	
		
			  Farm type  1990  2000  2005 
			 Cereals 679 543 586 
			 General cropping 355 223 165 
			 Horticulture 598 495 690 
			 Pigs and Poultry 171 122 100 
			 Dairy 749 401 359 
			 Cattle and sheep (less favoured areas) 0 0 0 
			 Cattle and sheep (lowland) 553 417 354 
			 Mixed 636 376 364 
			 Other types 366 342 214 
			 All types 4,107 2,919 2,832 
		
	
	The number of farmers, partners, directors and spouses (if working on the holding) on holdings by farm type in Gloucestershire are as follows:
	
		
			  Farm type  1990  2000  2005 
			 Cereals 484 625 706 
			 General cropping 141 112 84 
			 Horticulture 332 404 426 
			 Pigs and Poultry 119 185 261 
			 Dairy 870 701 587 
			 Cattle and Sheep (less favoured areas) 0 0 0 
			 Cattle and sheep (lowland) 1,270 1,687 1,764 
			 Mixed 471 514 578 
			 Other types 409 963 899 
			 All types 4,096 5,191 5,305 
			  Source: June Agricultural Survey

Flood Defences

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of London's flood defences in protecting South East London.

Ian Pearson: The Environment Agency is the main operating authority for flood risk management in England. The tidal defences that currently protect South East London and most of the ThamesEstuary are of a very high standard, and an estimated £200 million will be spent on their maintenance and operation until 2021. The Agency is also developing a long-term management plan for the Thames Estuary to tackle flood risks until 2100.

Flood Defences

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the evidential basis was for the recent alterations to the published flood risk maps for Willington, Derbyshire; what representations the Environment Agency received from  (a) owners of the former Willington power station site and  (b) their representatives prior to the changes being made; what account was taken of (i) the Trent Fluvial Strategy studies and (ii) planning proposals for the area when the changes were being prepared; and whether the changes have been reflected in the system for the communication to village residents of risk to their properties.

Ian Pearson: The Environment Agency had discussions with consultants acting on behalf of the developer about Willington Power Station from June 2004 until February 2006. The consultants were required to address flood risk issues in a comprehensive Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) of the site.
	The findings of the consultants' FRA work were in line with the recommendations of the Trent Fluvial Strategy, which was published by the Environment Agency in March 2005.
	The FRA was submitted as part of the outline planning application and it was considered during our assessment of the proposals. The FRA considered all sources of risk to the site in question.
	The changes have been reflected in the way in which the Environment Agency have communicated with the residents of Willington over risk to their properties.

Fungaflor Formulation Application

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when his Department will reach a decision on the Fungaflor formulation application; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD) is responsible for authorising uses of pesticide products.
	PSD received an application for the product Fungaflor in 2002. However, this application was rejected because it did not contain sufficient information to allow PSD to conduct a risk assessment demonstrating an acceptable risk to humans and the environment.
	Since that application a new company has taken on ownership of the product Fungaflor. This company submitted a new application to PSD on 1 June 2006. This has now been considered and PSD issued an approval for Fungaflor on 6 June.

Health and Safety

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how he plans to implement the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals legislation; and if he will take steps to ensure that there is no removal of the current legislative protection for the health and safety of the UK work force as a consequence of the implementation of that legislation;
	(2)  what consultation he plans to undertaken with the Health and Safety Executive on the  (a) implementation and  (b) administration of the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals regulations.

Ian Pearson: We are currently discussing the implementation of the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) legislation and a range of related issues with the agencies involved in the regulation of chemicals and with the devolved Administrations. The Health and Safety Executive is fully involved in this process and continues to work closely with Defra, in particular providing support on areas that are relevant to occupational health. REACH will not affect existing health and safety legislation.
	One of the more important implementation aspects will be the appointment of a UK competent authority for REACH later this year. The competent authority will work closely with existing enforcement bodies, including the Health and Safety Executive and the Environment Agency.

Performance Targets

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which of his Department's customer performance targets are being missed, on the basis of the latest available information; and if he will make a statement.

Barry Gardiner: The Department provides regular performance updates against its outstanding public service agreement targets through its annual Departmental Report and its Autumn Performance Report published in spring/summer and autumn respectively. The 2005 versions, which are the most recently published, are available in the House Libraries and online at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/deprep/default.htm
	A short summary of progress against our 2004 Spending Review targets can be found in Appendix 4 of the 2005 Autumn Performance Report, with more detailed information available in Chapter 2.
	The Department also gives regular updates on its performance via HM Treasury's website at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/performance/DEFRA.cfm
	Defra's 2006 Departmental Report is due for publication in spring 2006.

Recycling

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the average cost per ton of recycling  (a) wood,  (b) glass,  (c) plastics,  (d) paper,  (e) cardboard and  (f) metal in each London borough in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: DEFRA does not gather information on individual recycling schemes or the costs of recycling waste material. These will vary depending on a number of factors, including the collection method used by a local authority, the materials collected and the market for recycled materials.

River Severn

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will list the sources of radioactive  (a) wastewater discharged into and  (b) runoff into the River Severn; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The Environment Agency lists the organisations that are currently authorised under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 to make disposals, either directly or indirectly, to the River Severn or its estuary on its website at:
	http://maps.environment-agency.gov.uk/wiyby/wiybyController?extraClause=PROCESS_NAME~'RADIOACTIVE%20SUBSTANCES'

Rural and Agricultural Shows

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which rural and agricultural shows will be attended by Ministers from his Department up to 31 August.

Barry Gardiner: Defra will have a corporate presence at the following rural and agricultural shows up to 31 August. We will be attending additional shows beyond this date.
	14-15 June: Cereals 2006 in Lincolnshire
	28-29 June: The Royal Norfolk Show
	2-5 July: The Royal Show, at Stoneleigh, Warwickshire
	11-13 July: The Great Yorkshire Show
	26 July: Fruit Focus, East Mailing, Kent
	28-30 July: CLA Game Fair, Romsey, Hampshire
	All five Ministers will be attending the Royal Show between 2-4 July.
	With regards to the other shows on this list, we are currently putting plans in place to ensure that where possible Ministers attend, based on relevance to their individual portfolios and availability.
	Additionally, Ministers may of course choose to attend additional shows where there is not a corporate presence. For example, Lord Rooker attended the Royal Cornwall Show on 9 June.

Sheep Dip

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to allow the reintroduction of cypermethrin as a sheep dip.

Ben Bradshaw: Before we can consider the reintroduction of the Marketing Authorisations for cypermethrin sheep dip products, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate needs to receive and assess further information on the environmental risks presented by their use and how these can be managed. The Marketing Authorisation Holders have been asked to provide such information. Additionally, the VMD and Environment Agency have jointly commissioned a R&D project on environmental exposure to cypermethrin released to the farmyard. In particular, this will consider the impact of recently dipped animals crossing watercourses in order to enable VMD to provide more advice to farmers on how long such animals need to be kept away from watercourses. The results of this part of the project should be available by the end of the summer.
	When all of this information has been received we will be able to begin to consider the reintroduction of the cypermethrin sheep dip Marketing Authorisations in conjunction with interested stakeholder groups.

Single Farm Payment

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the performance target is of the Rural Payments Agency for the time taken from receipt of an application for a claim form for the 2006-07 Single Payments Scheme to the despatch of the form to the applicant; and if he will make a statement on the progress being made by the agency towards meeting that target.

Barry Gardiner: The Rural Payments Agency does not have a formal performance target for the despatch of application forms as the vast majority are sent automatically to previous applicants. However where a request is received the estimated turnaround time is24 hours. Application forms were also available at RPA sites and could to be downloaded from the RPA website.

Single Farm Payment

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the long-term plan is for the payment of the single farm payment.

Barry Gardiner: We are determined that the right lessons are learned from our experience this year with the Single Payment Scheme, first to prepare for the undoubted challenges that will exist in the delivery of the 2006 scheme, and second to move to a more stable position for the 2007 scheme year. Our subsequent plans will be guided by the outcome of the fundamental review of the Rural Payments Agency that my right hon. Friend the member for Derby, South announced in her written statement of 16 March 2006,  Official Report, column104WS.

Single Farm Payment

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the estimated cost to date to the industry is of delays in payment of single farm payments.

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the cost to farmers per month in interest payments caused by delays in single farm payments; and for what reason guidelines on set aside have  (a) been changed and  (b) been changed at this stage of the scheme.

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the  (a) total debt and  (b) interest on that debt accrued by farmers as a result of the delay in single farm payments in England, broken down by county.

Barry Gardiner: The EU regulatory window for payments under the 2005 Single Payment Scheme (SPS) is 1 December 2005 to 30 June 2006. The cost to the agricultural industry of these payments being made in one month rather than another depends on individual farmers' circumstances and the use to which the payments are put.
	In light of the situation explained by my right hon. Friend the member for Derby, South in her written statement of 16 March 2006,  Official Report, column 104WS, various managerial and procedural changes have been introduced during the past few months in order to increase the flow of SPS payments. These have contributed to the position where over £1.3 billion, representing 89 per cent. of the total value of such payments, has now been disbursed.

Single Farm Payment

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on the impact of the late payment of claims under the 2005 single payment scheme on the competitiveness of English agricultural businesses with their counterparts in other EU countries.

Barry Gardiner: The timing of payments under the decoupled single payment scheme (SPS) only affects the competitiveness of agricultural businesses to the extent that SPS claimants treat those payments as though they remain coupled to production. Discussions within Government and with stakeholders has highlighted widespread recognition of the potential benefits to the English agricultural industry, relative to its counterparts in most other EU member states, that was provided by the decisions made by my right hon. Friend the Member for Derby, South (Margaret Beckett) to introduce the SPS at the earliest possible date and not to take up any of the options to retain coupled EU direct payments.

Single Farm Payment

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures he is taking  (a) to ensure that outstanding applications under the Single Farm Payment Scheme are processed as a matter of urgency and  (b) to improve efficiency in handling payments under the scheme.

Barry Gardiner: As of 5 June the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has paid just under £1.33 billion to nearly 96,000 customers, representing 89 per cent. of projected expenditure to 80 per cent. of eligible claimants. RPA's top priority is to pay those claims worth more than €1,000 that have not yet received any payment. The majority of these cases have been allocated to an individual member of staff to resolve any outstanding validation issues and proceed to payment as soon as possible. In a number of cases this will require the case owner discussing outstanding validation issues with the claimant.
	RPA is reviewing its approach to handling claims to the 2006, building on lessons learned in processing 2005 scheme claims.

Single Farm Payment

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the merits of raising the threshold for single farm payment minimum acreage to one hectare; and if he will make a statement.

Barry Gardiner: holding answer 25 May 2006
	Under EU legislation governing the single payment scheme (SPS), member states may set a minimum area for the establishment of SPS entitlements, which can not be higher than 0.3ha. Following discussions between the Department and the devolved administrations, the UK made maximum use of this flexibility in adopting a minimum area of 0.3ha. The establishment of entitlements is, with very limited exemptions, a one-off exercise undertaken in the year the SPS is introduced. In the UK this was 2005. Even if it were possible, therefore, for the UK to now set a higher minimum area, it would have little, if any, practical effect going forward.

Slaughter Premium

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many EU countries pay a slaughter premium for calves.

Ben Bradshaw: Six member states currently pay slaughter premium on calves (Austria, Belgium (part only), France, Netherlands, Portugal and Spain).

Tagging (Sheep)

David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the  (a) reliability and  (b) cost-effectiveness of electronic tagging for sheep.

Ben Bradshaw: An extensive pilot trial took place in 2004-05 to evaluate the use of electronic identification devices (EIDs) and electronic data transfer (EDT) under English sheep farming conditions. The aim of the trial was to identify issues surrounding the practical application, rollout and implementation of EID on sheep farms in different parts of the country, in livestock markets and in slaughterhouses. Resultsfrom the trial are available on the Defra website: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/tracing/sheep/eid/index.htm.
	These results will be submitted to the European Commission to inform their forthcoming report on EID. A regulatory impact assessment for the implementation of electronic identification of sheep and goats in England is also being prepared.

Transport Resources and Waste Facilities

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent conclusions relating to the setting up of fewer, larger sustainable transport resources and waste facilities.

Ben Bradshaw: The recent consultation on the review of England's Waste Strategy put forward proposals for the future of waste policy. These included policies with various environmental impacts, for example, on the quality of local environments and transport.
	The consultation closed on 9 May 2006. All responses are being carefully considered during the development of a revised waste strategy, which is due to be published later this year.
	The procurement of waste services by local authorities is key to delivery and it is clear that further facilities will be required in order to deal with the commercial and industrial wastes diverted from landfill, or requiring treatment to meet landfill controls. The recently created Waste Infrastructure Development Programme will consider how to encourage local authorities to allow, where appropriate, for larger facilities that can serve the non-municipal sector and provide recycling collection services for businesses.

Viral Haemorrhagic Septicaemia

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what contingency plans his Department has put in place to deal with outbreaks of viral haemorrhagic septicaemia in live fish in the UK;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the  (a) causes and  (b) sources of viral haemorrhagic septicaemia in farmed trout in the UK;
	(3)  what discussions his Department has had with key stakeholders on compensating fish farmers for the compulsory slaughter of stock in the event of an outbreak of  (a) viral haemorrhagic septicaemia and  (b) other fatal diseases amongst farmed fish.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 8 June 2006
	On26 May, Viral Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (VMS) was confirmed in samples of fish taken from a trout farm in the River Ouse catchment area of North Yorkshire. VMS is a notifiable disease and the Department has a contingency plan in place for dealing with outbreaks of VMS and other serious fish diseases.
	In line with these arrangements, Fish Health Inspectors from the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), under DEFRA's direction, immediately formed a National Control Centre (NCC) to co-ordinate action to manage the outbreak with other partners, including the Environment Agency. The NCC is based at the CEFAS laboratory in Weymouth.
	Fish from the affected farm were slaughtered humanely with full co-operation from the farm owners. The fish have been disposed of in accordance with animal by-products legislation.
	DEFRA has placed restrictions on the movement of fish into and out of the Ouse catchment area, and specifically on all farms in that area.
	The cause of the VMS outbreak has not been identified, but extensive epidemiological investigations are underway to try and determine the source. A comprehensive sampling programme is also taking place, targeting fish farms and wild sites in the Ouse catchment as well as other possible contacts. Results are expected within the next 14 days. No further disease cases have been identified by recent sampling and inspections.
	Stakeholders make regular representations to the Department about compensating fish farmers for the compulsory slaughter of stock due to an outbreak of a serious fish disease. We have made it clear that it is not our policy to make compensation available in these circumstances. However, EU legislation does allow fish from an infected site to be on-grown for marketing, provided they do not display any clinical signs of disease.
	VHS has no implications for human health. The VHS virus cannot grow or replicate at human body temperatures.

Waste Incineration Directive

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which EU member states have designated tallow as a waste product under the Waste Incineration Directive.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 5 June 2006
	For the purposes of the Waste Incineration Directive (WID), "waste" means any solid or liquid waste as defined in Article 1(a) of the Waste Framework Directive (WFD). Whether or not a substance is "waste" within the meaning of Article 1(a) of the WFD is a matter that must be determined on the facts of the case and the interpretation of the law is a matter for the courts.
	In addition the EU Animal By-Products Regulation (ABPR) ((EC) No. 1774/2002) requires a range of animal by-products, and substances derived from them (for example, tallow), to be disposed of as waste. Where the method of disposal is incineration or co-incineration (that is, use as a fuel), the ABPR requires it to be carried out in compliance with the WID. The ABPR is directly applicable in all EU member states.
	We understand other member states are at various stages in discussing the implications of the regulations on burning tallow in their own countries. However, in response to representations by the UK Government, the European Commission has set up a study to help establish whether such controls are proportionate and necessary to the protection of the environment. The study is expected to report by the autumn, and the Government are pressing the Commission for the study to be completed as soon as possible.

Waste Management

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government plan to take to deal with litter over the next five years.

Ben Bradshaw: A number of improvements to existing legislation dealing with litter were made under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005, including the introduction of greater powers for local authorities in issuing fixed penalty notices and litter clearing notices. This was complemented by new guidance on the legislation and revision of the statutory 'Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse'.
	Improving the toolkit of powers and guidance available to local authorities will help them tackle local environmental quality issues more effectively. In addition, ENCAMS (Environmental Campaigns), which is grant-funded by DEFRA, runs the 'Keep Britain Tidy' campaign and carries out a number of public awareness campaigns aimed at changing behaviour. Recent campaigns have focused on youth littering and smoking-related litter.
	In addition to increasing the range and flexibility of enforcement options for local authorities, work is being taken forward on improving the provision of skills in relation to street cleansing and related services. A Local Environmental Management training and skills framework is being developed which will ensure that specific, tailored training and qualifications are available to the industry from operational level to senior management and play a key role in enabling local authorities to increase the effectiveness of their litter clearance, as well as other services they provide.

Water Shortages/Supplies

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance he has issued to the water companies on the categories of public sector vehicles to be exempt from the provisions of any hosepipe ban.

Ian Pearson: Hosepipe bans are imposed by water companies using the powers available to them under section 76 of the Water Industry Act 1991. In line with the definitions within the Act these powers will apply to private motor cars, but exclude public service vehicles and goods vehicles. No additional guidance has been given.

Water Shortages/Supplies

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the projected change in mains water usage over the next  (a) five,  (b) 10 and  (c) 20 years.

Ian Pearson: The Environment Agency is the statutory body with a duty to manage water resources in England and Wales. As part of the agency's management role it has both national and regional water resource strategies which set out the pressures over the next 25 years. Information about these strategies is available on the Environment Agency's website: www.environment-agency.gov.uk.
	Water companies have statutory duties to maintain adequate supplies of water. They have 25 year water resource plans which complement the agency strategies and seek to reconcile supply with anticipated demand. This forward planning framework exists to take account of factors such as the water supply and disposal infrastructure required to service significant new housing developments and the implications of climate change.

Water Shortages/Supplies

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans are in place in  (a) London and  (b) England to provide (i) bottled and (ii) other sources of water to (A) schools, (B) hospitals, (C) nursing homes and (D) elderly and disabled people during a water shortage or drought; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: Any projected shortage in supply this year will be addressed through the relevant water company's drought plan. These plans set out how the company will continue to meet its duties to supply adequate quantities of wholesome water during drought periods with as little recourse as possible to drought orders and permits.
	No water company is expecting to rely on bottled water supplies which would require authorisation under an emergency drought order. Water companies would deploy their existing emergency plans to provide alternative supplies of water to customers in vulnerable sectors in the event of emergency drought order measures being put in place.

Line of Route (Saturday Opening)

Martin Linton: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what progress has been made in implementing the Modernisation Committee's recommendation for Saturday opening of the Line of Route.

Nick Harvey: Further studies of the practicalities of implementing this recommendation are being carried out by the Visitor Route Steering Group with a view to presenting detailed proposals to the Administration Committee later this year. If the proposals are in due course approved by the authorities of both Houses, Saturday opening could start from the autumn of 2007.

Access to Parliament (Young People)

Ian Lucas: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what steps the Commission plans to take to improve access to Parliament for young people.

Nick Harvey: A planned expansion of the Educational Visits Programme is under way, with the aim of increasing the annual number of students involved from 8,000 to 25,000 over the next two years. The Parliamentary Education Unit (PEU) now has the use of a room in 1 Parliament Street for educational visits as well as the MacMillan Room, and consideration is being given to how the House might make more effective provision for school students with special educational needs. Plans are also in place to improve the provision of specific educational content for young people who visit the House through routes other than the educational programme, including the summer opening and tours organised by individual Members. The development of new content forthe educational website www.explore-parliament.uk continues.
	In the longer term, plans for a Parliamentary Visitor and Information Centre, currently being considered by the Administration Committee in conjunction with the House of Lords Information Committee, would aim to provide purpose-built facilities for educational visitsas part of a major improvement to Parliament's engagement with the public.

Postage Costs

Andrew Dismore: To ask the honourable Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to his answer of 17 May 2006,  Official Report, column 967W, on postage costs, if the Commission will issue guidance to House departments that second class mail should be routinely used for non-urgent items; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: All departments of the House are reminding their staff that second class mail should be routinely used for non-urgent items and monitoringof mail issued from House departments began from1 April 2006. Results from the first quarter of the present financial year will identify those areas where further savings can be made. E-mail is used where possible to save on postage costs.

National Insurance Numbers (Illegal Immigrants)

Richard Bacon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations he has received on the allocation of national insurance numbers to illegal workers; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: I refer the hon. Gentleman tothe answer I gave to the hon. Member for Blaby(Mr. Robathan) earlier.

Benefits

Chris Mole: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress is being made in improving processing times for housing benefit claims.

James Plaskitt: My Department is working closely with local authorities and as a result the average time taken to process new housing benefit and council tax benefit claims has been cut by over two weeks. There have been further improvements in the first three quarters of 2005-06, with the national average improving to36 days.
	We continue to target the poorest performing local authorities and as a result this is where we are seeing the most significant improvements.

Benefits

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the take-up rate of council tax benefit was in each year since 1996-97; and how many pensioners  (a) were entitled to and  (b) received council tax benefit in each such year.

James Plaskitt: The latest available estimates for council tax benefit take-up is in "Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take Up in 2003/2004", a copy of which is in the Library.
	Estimates of the number of pensioners entitled to council tax benefit in each year and the number of pensioner households in receipt of council tax benefit at May each year are in the following tables. As the information in the different tables is not on a consistent basis, they should not be used in conjunction to derive an estimate of the take-up of council tax benefit.
	
		
			   Number of pensioners entitled to CTB in each year 
			 1996-97 3,370,000 to 3,920,000 
			 1997-98 3,240,000 to 3,790,000 
			 1998-99 3,500,000 to 3,800,000 
			 1999-2000 3,520,000 to 3,870,000 
			 2000-01 3,460,000 to 3,800,000 
			 2001-02 3,770,000 to 4,130,000 
			 2002-03 3,810,000 to 4,170,000 
			 2003-04 4,060,000 to 4,460,000 
			  Notes: 1. Estimates of the numbers entitled are given as ranges in order to account for possible biases inherent in estimates from data that is less than perfect. They also take account of the effects of sampling variation. 2. Estimates cover all those aged 60 and over in the private household population of Great Britain. The data source is the Family Resources Survey. 3. For the purposes of this analysis, the unit of analysis is the benefit unit. This is either a single person aged at least 60 years old or, if a couple, both will be termed pensioners if one is aged at least 60 years old. This is consistent with the definition used in "Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-up" publications. 4. Estimates have been rounded to the nearest 10 thousand. 5. Comparing estimates over time is not straightforward. Our estimates allow for biases, which can change from year to year; but we cannot be sure of the extent or effects of changes. Therefore, any analysis of changes over time should be made with caution. 
		
	
	
		
			  Council tax benefit recipients aged 60 and over: Great Britain 
			  As at May each year  Number 
			 1996 2,717,000 
			 1997 2,646,000 
			 1998 2,614,000 
			 1999 2,542,000 
			 2000 2,419,000 
			 2001 2,403,000 
			 2002 2,362,000 
			 2003 2,357,000 
			  Notes: 1. The figures are based on a 1 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation. 2. The data refers to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple. 3. Caseloads have been rounded to the nearest thousand. 4. Figures for any non-responding authorities have been estimated. 5. Housing benefit figures exclude any extended payment cases. 6. Council tax benefit totals exclude any second adult rebate cases. 7. "Aged 60 and over" is defined as benefit units where the claimant and/or partner are aged 60 and over. Therefore figures will contain some claimants aged under 60 where there is a partner aged over 60 years.  Source: Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System, Annual 1 per cent. sample, taken in May 1996 to 2003. 
		
	
	
		
			  Council tax benefit recipients aged 60 and over: Great Britain 
			  As at May each year  Number 
			 2004 2,406,780 
			 2005 2,444,470 
			  Notes: 1. The data refers to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple. 2. Caseloads have been rounded to the nearest te10. 3. Figures for any non-responding authorities have been estimated. 4. Housing benefit figures exclude any extended payment cases. 5. Council tax benefit totals exclude any second adult rebate cases. 6. "Aged 60 and over" is defined as benefit units where the claimant and/or partner are aged 60 and over. Therefore figures will contain some claimants aged under 60 where there is a partner aged over 60 years.  Source: Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System Quarterly 100 per cent. caseload stock-count taken in May 2004 and 2005.

Pathways-to-work Pilots

Andrew MacKay: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he plans to publish a full cost-benefit analysis in relation to Pathways-to-Work pilots.

Jim Murphy: We intend to publish a cost benefit analysis of Pathways next year. This analysis will be based on new and repeat customers in the first seven path ways areas.
	However Pathways to Work is an acknowledged success story. For the fourth quarter in a row the number of people claiming incapacity benefits has shown a significant year-on-year fall-down 61,000 to stand at 2.71 million.

Financial Assistance Scheme

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether there are mechanisms in place to ensure that eligible people who are close to retirement are supported efficiently through the financial assistance scheme.

James Purnell: We have said we need to do more to ensure that eligible members who reach 65, the payment age for the financial assistance scheme, are paid as quickly as possible. That is why we are reviewing the administration of the scheme. The review will look at what we need to do to provide the best administration and management support. It will also consider how we can ensure the most cost efficient operation and examine a full range of options for the appropriate organisational location of the operations. It will report before the summer recess.

New Deal

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much and what proportion of the new deal training budget was spent on those aged  (a) 25 and under,  (b) 26 to 40,  (c) 40 to 55 and  (d) 55 and over in (i) 2003-04, (ii) 2004-05 and (iii) 2005-06; and what his forecasts are for spending on these categories for the next two years.

Anne McGuire: Information on new deal training spend is not collected by the specified age ranges.
	Information on new deal training spend is only available for the new deal for young people (NDYP) full time education and training (FTET) option; the new deal 25 plus (ND25 plus) employment and training opportunities (ETO); training undertaken during the ND25 plus intensive activity period (IAP), and expenditure on the new deal 50 plus training grant.
	Forecast expenditure for the next two years is only available by total new deal spend, not broken down by specific training elements.
	The available information is in the table.
	
		
			  New deal training spend 
			  £ million 
			   2003-04  2004-05  2005-06( 1) 
			 New deal for young people(2) 30 36 29 
			 New deal 25 plus(3) 29 26 — 
			 New deal 50 plus training grant(4) 1 0 0 
			 (1) Data for 2005-06 is forecast expenditure and is not available for the ND25 ETO and those who have undertaken training during the ND25 plus IAP. (2) Expenditure is for people aged 18-24 who have participated on the NDYP FTET Option. (3) Information is for people aged 25 and over who have participated on the ND25 plus ETO and for those who have undertaken training during the ND25 plus IAP. (4) Information is for people aged 50 and over who have claimed the new deal 50 plus training grant. Once in work, new deal 50 plus customers can claim a training grant of up to £1,200 for training and development related to the job, and a further £300 for life-long learning.  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest million and will be shown as nil if spend is less than half a million. 2. Figures exclude: allowances paid to participants; some ancillary costs associated with new deal 25 plus such as child care and travel costs; the cost of training provided as part of the private sector led new deals and the cost of training provided as part of the other NDYP options eg training provided through the environmental task force or voluntary sector options.  Source: Jobcentre Plus Financial Strategy Division

Average Income Statistics

Michael Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average income was for  (a) the lowest earning 40 per cent. and  (b) the highest earning 40 per cent. of the population in (i) Swindon and (ii) England in (A) 1997 and (B) 2005.

Jim Murphy: The data source does not allow us to provide robust income estimates below regional level.
	Information is presented in the following tables for England as a whole and the South West region in particular. This is consistent with the latest publication of the 'Households Below Average Income 1994-95 to 2004-05'.
	
		
			  Money values for the median of the bottom 40 per cent. of income distribution in average 2004-05 prices: England and South West 
			  £ per week equivalised 
			   1996-97 to 1998-99  2002-03 to 2004-05 
			  Before housing costs   
			 England 186 222 
			 South West 187 229 
			
			  After housing costs   
			 England 135 177 
			 South West 137 185 
		
	
	
		
			  Money values for the median of the top 40 per cent. of income distribution in average 2004-05 prices: England and South West 
			  £ per week equivalised 
			   1996-97 to 1998-99  2002-03 to 2004-05 
			  Before housing costs   
			 England 483 550 
			 South West 453 517 
			
			  After housing costs   
			 England 410 489 
			 South West 385 465 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are provided using a three-year moving averages, as single-year estimates do not provide a robust guide to year-on-year changes. Hence, figures are not consistent with previously published single-year estimates and there may be differences in changes over time. 2. Figures refer to income not earnings.  Source: Family Resource Survey.

Benefit Helplines

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff on average answered calls on each of the benefit helplines run by his Department in each month, in each of the last seven years.

Anne McGuire: For most DWP Helplines, data is not collected in the format requested. The Helplines that can provide data are in the following tables.
	
		
			  Data figures are WTE (whole time equivalent) staff answering calls 
			   1999-2000 
			   Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sept  Oct  Nov  Dec  Jan  Feb  Mar 
			  Child Support Agency 
			 CSA National Helpline(1) — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			  
			  Disability Carers Service 
			 Benefit Inquiry Line 86 81 76 71 82 87 84 88 88 97 95 99 
			 Disability Living Allowance/Attendance(2) — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			  
			  Jobcentre Plus 
			 Jobcentre Plus Direct—Jobseeker Direct(3) — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Jobcentre Plus Direct—First Contact(3) — — — — — — — — — — — — 
		
	
	
		
			   2000-01 
			   Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sept  Oct  Nov  Dec  Jan  Feb  Mar 
			  Child Support Agency 
			 CSA National Helpline — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			  
			  Disability Carers Service 
			 Benefit Inquiry Line 88 88 87 76 77 74 74 75 75 76 77 75 
			 Disability Living Allowance/Attendance — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			  
			  Jobcentre Plus 
			 Jobcentre Plus Direct—Jobseeker Direct — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Jobcentre Plus Direct—First Contact — — — — — — — — — — — — 
		
	
	
		
			   2001-02 
			   Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sept  Oct  Nov  Dec  Jan  Feb  Mar 
			  Child Support Agency 
			 CSA National Helpline — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			  
			  Disability Carers Service 
			 Benefit Inquiry Line 77 75 72 81 76 73 77 76 72 71 69 67 
			 Disability Living Allowance/Attendance — — — — — — 292 289 286 289 280 290 
			  
			  Jobcentre Plus 
			 Jobcentre Plus Direct—Jobseeker Direct — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Jobcentre Plus Direct—First Contact — — — — — — — — — — — — 
		
	
	
		
			   2002-03 
			   Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sept  Oct  Nov  Dec  Jan  Feb  Mar 
			  Child Support Agency 
			 CSA National Helpline — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			  
			  Disability Carers Service 
			 Benefit Inquiry Line 60 69 72 65 64 61 67 62 67 69 66 67 
			 Disability Living Allowance/Attendance 305 314 322 324 313 330 336 324 312 300 296 291 
			  
			  Jobcentre Plus 
			 Jobcentre Plus Direct—Jobseeker Direct — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Jobcentre Plus Direct—First Contact — — — — — — — — — — — — 
		
	
	
		
			   2003-04 
			   Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sept  Oct  Nov  Dec  Jan  Feb  Mar 
			  Child Support Agency 
			 CSA National Helpline — — — — — — — — — — 374 348 
			  
			  Disability Carers Service 
			 Benefit Inquiry Line 66 63 67 67 66 67 68 58 62 58 58 58 
			 Disability Living Allowance/Attendance 298 298 283 280 283 278 270 285 282 292 288 290 
			  
			  Jobcentre Plus 
			 Jobcentre Plus Direct—Jobseeker Direct — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Jobcentre Plus Direct—First Contact — — — — — — — — — — — — 
		
	
	
		
			   2004-05 
			   Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sept  Oct  Nov  Dec  Jan  Feb  Mar 
			  Child Support Agency 
			 CSA National Helpline 358 356 344 367 358 357 350 342 356 341 341 352 
			  
			  Disability Carers Service 
			 Benefit Inquiry Line 59 57 57 57 59 54 58 54 52 55 54 51 
			 Disability Living Allowance/Attendance 291 292 293 300 302 298 309 336 334 335 332 344 
			  
			  Jobcentre Plus 
			 Jobcentre Plus Direct—Jobseeker Direct 572 608 604 579 634 678 730 709 674 696 682 641 
			 Jobcentre Plus Direct—First Contact 1,293 1,316 1,402 1,438 1,465 1,364 1,482 1,495 1,513 1,519 1,602 1,747 
		
	
	
		
			   2005-06 
			   Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sept  Oct  Nov  Dec  Jan  Feb  Mar 
			  Child Support Agency 
			 CSA National Helpline 362 360 351 350 339 332 334 369 364 389 450 454 
			  
			  Disability Carers Service 
			 Benefit Inquiry Line 55 53 52 50 51 58 57 60 60 60 64 70 
			 Disability Living Allowance/Attendance 351 351 355 354 343 329 347 340 334 327 321 316 
			  
			  Jobcentre Plus 
			 Jobcentre Plus Direct—Jobseeker Direct 887 830 812 850 875 879 810 690 669 625 582 527 
			 Jobcentre Plus Direct—First Contact 1,683 1,808 1,850 2,001 2,080 2,311 2,600 2,847 3,100 3,426 3,475 3,607 
			 (1) Data not available until February 2004 because the Child Support Agency had no resourced helplines set up to deal with customer inquiries. Client calls were dealt with by caseworkers during this period. (2) Data not available for DLA/AA Helpline until October 2001 as although collected, data has not been retained. (3) The Directorate Performance team was set up in April 2004, and the team has no access to data prior to this.

Benefits Simplification Unit

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many people work in the Benefits Simplification Unit, broken down by civil service grade;
	(2)  how many people have worked in the Benefits Simplification Unit in each year since it was introduced;
	(3)  what targets have been set for the Benefits Simplification Unit;
	(4)  when the Benefits Simplification Unit will report to Ministers; and whether this information will be made public.

James Plaskitt: The Benefit Simplification Unit was set up in December 2005. When fully staffed, the unit will have five full-time staff (one SEO and four HEOs) with additional input from a senior civil servant (Grade 5) and a Grade 7.
	The unit's role is to act as a catalyst in driving forward simplification across the benefits system, and as a first step published "Simplification: Guide to Best Practice" on 4 May 2006. Copies have been placed in the Library. The unit is now working to raise awareness of the simplification agenda across DWP and to embed best practice, so that the need to move towards a simpler, more transparent, system is at the heart of future benefit design and delivery.
	The unit reports regularly to Ministers and progress will be reported on annually in the departmental report.

Departmental Staff

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff are employed by his Department in each departmental region; and how many staff he expects to be employed by his Department in each such region in  (a) 2007 and  (b) 2008.

Anne McGuire: Information on the number of staff employed by the Department for Work and Pensions as at 31 March 2006 by each Government office region is set out in the following table.
	The total number of staff expected to be employed in the Department at 31 March 2007 and 31 March 2008 are not available by Government office region as detailed plans are currently being developed.
	
		
			  Number 
			Planned staff 
			  Government office region/country  Actual staff  2007  2008 
			 East Midlands 5,700 — — 
			 East of England 5,537 — — 
			 London 11,687 — — 
			 North East 12,304 — — 
			 North West 23,341 — — 
			 Scotland 12,718 — — 
			 South East 7,229 — — 
			 South West 7,438 — — 
			 Wales 6,630 — — 
			 West Midlands 9,818 — — 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 12,366 — — 
			 Departmental total 114,767 109,950 101,900 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are point in time at dates stated and comply with Office for National Statistics definitions. 2. Figures are FTE and include temporary staff. 3. Planned figures are rounded to nearest 50 FTE and are subject to change.

Overnight Stays

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on how many occasions  (a) civil servants in his Department and  (b) special advisers have stayed overnight in (i) five star, (ii) four star and (iii) three star hotels in each of the last three years.

Anne McGuire: The Department for Work and Pensions cannot provide the information on the star rating of accommodation used by civil servants and special advisors as it is the cost of the hotel and not the star rating which will have influenced the choice of the hotel.

Overnight Stays

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total cost was of overnight accommodation for  (a) civil servants and  (b) special advisers in his Department staying overnight in (i) mainland Great Britain, (ii) Northern Ireland, (iii) the Republic of Ireland and (iv) other countries in each of the last three years.

Anne McGuire: Total costs for overnight accommodation are as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
			  Financial year  UK accommodation costs  Foreign accommodation costs 
			 2003-04 12,143,283.41 97,567.64 
			 2004-05 11,110,131.31 119,239.39 
			 2005-06 10,762,515.58 141,214.36 
		
	
	Unfortunately we are unable to provide information relating to specific countries of travel as this is not collected by the supplier. The above totals include all travellers within DWP including special advisors. Unfortunately we are unable to identify separate costs relating to individual groups of travellers.

Overnight Stays

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on how many occasions Ministers of State in his Department stayed overnight in  (a) five star,  (b) four star and  (c) three star hotels on foreign visits in each of the last three years.

Anne McGuire: The information requested could be supplied only at disproportionate cost. Under the terms of the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, when travelling on official business Ministers are expected to make efficient and cost-effective travel arrangements.
	Since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year, this information includes accommodation costs. Copies are available in the Library.

Post Office Card Account

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make it his policy to retain the Post Office card account beyond 2010 as an option for those who wish to continue using it; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: No.
	The Post Office card account will be funded by the Government until 2010 as always planned. Every customer who currently collects their benefits from the Post Office will still be able to so if they wish—around 25 different bank accounts can be accessed at Post Office branches now, and we hope there could be more in the future.
	We are working with Post Office Ltd. to develop a joint strategy to move customers from the Post Office card account with the best interests of our joint customers in mind. Post Office Ltd. has already introduced one new savings account, and is developing other savings and banking products, which are likely to be more attractive to many of their customers than the current Post Office card account.

Birth Rates

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the latest birth rate per 1,000 women was to those aged  (a) 19,  (b) 18,  (c) 17,  (d) 16,  (e) 15,  (f) 14 and  (g) under 14 years in the UK; and what forecast he has made for each of the next 20 years.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 12 June 2006:
	As the National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question about the latest birth rate per 1,000 women to those aged (a) 19, (b) 18, (c) 17, (d) 16, (e) 15, (f) 14 and (g) under 14 years in the UK; and what forecast has been made for each of the next 20 years. (75628)
	Birth rates by age for females aged under 20 are shown in Table 1. Figures relate to births that occurred in 2005. The birth rates are provisional, as they are calculated using the 2004-based population projections for 2005.
	Because of the relatively small numbers of births to girls aged 14 and under, ONS only routinely reports birth rates for the age-group '15 and under'. In 2005, there were 1,092 births to girls aged 15,210 births to girls aged 14, and 26 births to girls aged under 14.
	
		
			  Table 1: Births per 1,000 females at each single year of age below age 20,( 1)  United Kingdom, 2005 
			  Age  Births per 1,000 females 
			 19 52.7 
			 18 39.2 
			 17 25.3 
			 16 10.4 
			 15 and under 3.5 
			 (1) Provisional 
		
	
	Assumptions about future birth rates are made as part of the national population projections. Birth rate assumptions for females are shown in Table 2, by single year of age for those aged 16 to 19 and for those aged 15 and under. Figures are for each year, from mid-2004 to mid-2005 (the first year of the projection), and for the next 20 years.
	
		
			  Table 2: Assumed mid-year to mid-year birth rates per 1,000 females at each age under 20, United Kingdom, 2004-05 to 2026-27 
			   Age 
			   19  18  17  16  15 and under 
			 2004-05 53.0 41.2 25.7 10.6 3.6 
			 2005-06 52.7 40.3 24.2 10.3 3.4 
			 2006-07 51.6 39.3 22.9 10.1 3.3 
			 2007-08 51.0 38.9 22.3 9.9 3.3 
			 2008-09 50.9 38.7 22.0 9.9 3.2 
			 2009-10 50.9 38.7 21.9 9.9 3.2 
			 2010-11 50.8 38.7 21.9 9.8 3.2 
			 2011-12 50.8 38.7 21.9 9.8 3.2 
			 2012-13 50.8 38.7 21.8 9.8 3.2 
			 2013-14 50.8 38.6 21.8 9.8 3.2 
			 2014-15 50.8 38.6 21.8 9.8 3.2 
			 2015-16 50.8 38.6 21.8 9.8 3.2 
			 2016-17 50.8 38.6 21.8 9.8 3.2 
			 2017-18 50.7 38.6 21.8 9.8 3.2 
			 2018-19 50.7 38.6 21.8 9.8 3.2 
			 2019-20 50.8 38.6 21.8 9.8 3.2 
			 2020-21 50.8 38.6 21.7 9.8 3.2 
			 2021-22 50.8 38.6 21.7 9.8 3.2 
			 2022-23 50.8 38.6 21.7 9.8 3.2 
			 2023-24 50.8 38.6 21.7 9.8 3.2 
			 2024-25 50.8 38.6 21.7 9.8 3.2 
			 2025-26 50.8 38.6 21.7 9.8 3.2 
			 2026-27 50.8 38.6 21.7 9.8 3.2

Constituency Visits

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the constituencies he visited between 5 May 2005 and 5 May 2006.

Gordon Brown: As part of my official duties I have made a number of visits to the regions and nations of the United Kingdom and will be continuing to do so over the coming months.

Household Incomes

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average gross disposable household income was in  (a) the UK and  (b) each region and county in each year since 2001.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the national statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 12 June 2006:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about Gross Disposable Household Income (GDHI) for the UK and each region and county in each year since 2001. (75485)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) produce estimates for GDHI in Nomenclature of Units for Territorial Statistics (NUTS) regions. Estimates are not produced separately at the county level. GDHI figures up to and including 2004 (the latest year for which estimates are available) were published in May 2006. Estimates for UK and NUTS1, 2 and 3 GDHI can be accessed in table 3.1 through the following link: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_economy/Results_Tables_Values.xls

Missing Trader Fraud

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost of missing trader fraud for each quarter since 1997  (a) in cash terms and  (b) cost adjusted for inflation.

Dawn Primarolo: HMRC's latest annual estimates of total MTIC fraud were published in 'Measuring Indirect Tax Losses-2005', which is available from the House of Commons Library. A quarterly breakdown of these estimates is shown in Table 1, along with the corresponding constant price time series based on 1999 Q1 prices.
	Measuring the size of MTIC fraud is inherently difficult. Therefore, the figures are presented as a range.
	Due to lags in data becoming available, the annual estimate for 2005-06 cannot be published until PBR 2006. The associated quarterly figures will not be available until this time as their release could compromise the pre-announced publication.
	
		
			  Table 1: Quarterly estimates of MTIC fraud at current prices and constant prices (1999 Q1 base)( 1) 
			  £ billion 
			Current price  Constant prices 
			Upper limit  Lower limit  Upper limit  Lower limit 
			 1998 Q4 0.52 0.24 0.52 0.24 
			   
			 1999 Q1 0.52 0.21 0.52 0.21 
			  Q2 0.59 0.23 0.58 0.23 
			  Q3 0.55 0.26 0.54 0.26 
			  Q4 0.58 0.29 0.57 0.28 
			   
			 2000 Q1 0.87 0.38 0.85 0.37 
			  Q2 0.82 0.28 0.79 0.27 
			  Q3 0.73 0.34 0.70 0.33 
			  Q4 0.61 0.33 0.58 0.31 
			   
			 2001 Q1 0.63 0.36 0.60 0.34 
			  Q2 0.58 0.35 0.55 0.33 
			  Q3 0.69 0.40 0.65 0.38 
			  Q4 0.77 0.45 0.73 0.42 
			 2002 Q1 0.82 0.54 0.77 0.51 
			  Q2 0.81 0.57 0.75 0.53 
			  Q3 0.74 0.35 0.69 0.32 
			  Q4 0.55 0.31 0.51 0.28 
			   
			 2003 Q1 0.56 0.31 0.51 0.28 
			  Q2 0.51 0.27 0.46 0.24 
			  Q3 0.40 0.22 0.36 0.20 
			  Q4 0.56 0.28 0.50 0.25 
			   
			 2004 Q1 0.52 0.27 0.46 0.24 
			  Q2 0.54 0.27 0.47 0.24 
			  Q3 0.55 0.29 0.48 0.25 
			  Q4 0.63 0.29 0.55 0.25 
			   
			 2005 Q1 0.58 0.29 0.50 0.25 
			 (1) The complexities of the methodology used to estimate MTIC fraud are such that there will be minor discrepancies between these quarterly figures and the published annual estimates.

Planning Gain Supplement

Tim Farron: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department plans to exempt developers of affordable housing from the Planning Gain Supplement.

John Healey: The Government's consultation on the proposed Planning-gain Supplement (PGS) ended on 27 February 2006. In Chapter 4 of the document, the Government specifically consulted on the scope, including, exemptions. The Government are now analysing responses received, and will make further announcements by the end of the year.

Private Medical Schemes

Peter Viggers: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent changes have been made to the taxation of payments by companies to former employees in respect of private medical schemes; what the estimated tax yield is resulting from these changes; and what estimate has been made of the additional burden of extra taxation on individual taxpayers as a result of the changes.

Edward Balls: From 6 April 2006 legislation, introduced in the Finance Act 2004 as part of pension simplification, made changes to the taxation of retirement benefits that are provided by employer financed retirement benefit schemes (EFRBS). An arrangement under which an employer pays private medical insurance premiums for a former employee after they have retired qualifies as an EFRBS.
	The changes ensure that both cash and non-cash retirement benefits paid from EFRBS to pensioners are taxable as employment income. Before 6 April 2006 it was possible to avoid paying tax on such retirement benefits by paying them solely in non-cash form.
	A Regulatory Impact Assessment ("Regulatory Impact Assessment for Simplifying the taxation of pensions—Update") was published on 22 March 2006. This sets out the Government's assessment of the impact of pension simplification and is available at www.hmrc.gov.uk/ria/ria-pensions-simplification.pdf. The Government estimate that pensions tax simplification will have an overall cost to the Exchequer building up to £250 million per year.

Tax Credits

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what procedures his Department has in place to adjust the level of tax credits payable to recipients who are required to repay overpayments;
	(2)  whether a family repaying over-paid tax credits can have their 2006 tax credits withheld to contribute to repayment of earlier over-payments;
	(3)  what measures are in place to ensure that families repaying over-paid tax credits do not experience hardship; and whether repayments are adapted for individual circumstances.

Dawn Primarolo: HM Revenue and Custom's Code of Practice 26 'What happens if we have paid you too much tax credit?' explains how overpayments are recovered and what happens if claimants have difficulty repaying an overpayment.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what his latest estimate is of the tax credit take-up rates for each year since 2003-04; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what his latest estimate is of the number of people entitled to but not receiving all forms of tax credits.

Dawn Primarolo: Estimates of take-up rates for child and working tax credits in 2003-04 are given on the HMRC website at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-take-up.htm. Tax credit take-up rates reached an unprecedented level in their first year of operation. 79 per cent. of eligible families with children claimed child tax credit in 2003-04, while for those earning under £10,000 a year, take-up was93 per cent. Take-up for low income working families with children is higher than for any previous system of in-work support.

Thrombo-embolism Deaths

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many women died of thrombo-embolism in each year since 1990.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 12 June 2006:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary Question asking how many women died of thrombo-embolism in each year since 1990. (75623)
	It is not possible to tabulate mortality data that exactly fits the cause of death category requested. The Office for National Statistics routinely publishes mortality data by underlying cause of death, using the International Classification of Diseases, in Mortality Statistics: Cause, Series DH2 which can be found on the National Statistics website at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=618.
	You should be able to find the conditions you are interested in from the tables in these volume
	Clarification of the question stated that you were interested in 'pulmonary induced abortions.' The Confidential Inquiry into Maternal and Child Health (CEMACH) collects information on all maternal deaths (deaths during pregnancy or up to one year after pregnancy) in the UK and publishes these data every three years. In the period 2000-2002 there were five maternal deaths following termination of pregnancy notified to the inquiry. Further information can be accessed via the CEMACH website at: http://www.cemach.org.uk/publications.htm.

Travel Perks

David Clelland: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total annual revenue from taxation was from season tickets and travel passes provided by employers to their staff in each of the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: This information is not available

2012 Olympics

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport why the 2012 Roadshow is not planned to stop in  (a) Kent and  (b) Essex.

Richard Caborn: holding answer 8 June 2006
	The 2012 Roadshow will visit every region of England, as well as Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, spending at least a day in each, and schedules are being developed in partnership with regional and national representatives. Due to time constraints it is simply not possible for the Roadshow to visit every county in the UK.
	As part of the day in the east of England region, the Roadshow will visit Weald Country Park in Essex on 13 July, as set out in the Press Notice released by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the London Organising Committee (LOCOG) on 9 May. A stop at Weald Country Park, the venue for the mountain biking at the 2012 Games, has always been an integral part of plans for the Roadshow.
	As part of the day in the south-east region, the Roadshow will visit Eton Dorney, a 2012 venue, Stoke Mandeville, the birth place of the Paralympic movement, as well as Brighton and Milton Keynes.

2012 Olympics

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of2 February 2006,  Official Report, column 640W, on the 2012 Olympics, if she will break down by individual project the planned expenditure on  (a) Olympic venues and infrastructure and  (b) infrastructure works planned and budgeted as part of the general regeneration of the Lower Lea Valley.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 8 June 2006
	The review of the cost of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games is still ongoing. Any revised estimates will be reported only when they have been agreed.

2012 Olympics

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of24 May 2006,  Official Report, column 1792W, on the London Olympics, what inflation rates were applied to each element of the 2012 Olympics infrastructure budget.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 8 June 2006
	The inflation rate applied to venue costs was 3.5 per cent. per annum from 2003-06 and 6.5 per cent. per annum from 2006 onwards. The inflation rate applied to other infrastructure costs was 5 per cent. per annum.

2012 Olympics

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what provision has been made for planting during and leading up to the London Olympics to ensure the provision of sustainable green sites.

Richard Caborn: The Government are committed to ensuring that we deliver not only the most successful games, but also that they are environmentally, economically and socially sustainable. Sustainable landscaping and planting for the Olympic Park is an important issue, both in terms of hosting the games and for the longer term legacy.
	The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), recently set up by my Department to deliver the venues and infrastructure for the games, has responsibility for the design and delivery of the Olympic Park, including its landscaping and planting, and recognises that the park will need extensive landscaping, to create a sustainable redevelopment of the local environment. The ODA has recently employed park-wide designers to work on an overall design concept for the park, including landscaping and planting.

2012 Olympics

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps will be taken to improve hotel and tourist facilities outside London in the run up to the 2012 Olympic Games.

Shaun Woodward: The consistent high quality of hotel and tourism facilities in the English regions, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland will be vital to the success of the tourism industry in making the most of the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, and of their legacy.
	My Department, in partnership with VisitBritain and Visit London, will shortly be consulting on the DCMS Tourism 2012 Strategy. The tourism accommodation grading schemes across the UK will be prominent in that consultation, as will the quality of the wider destination welcome.

2012 Olympics

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the potential benefits to non-London tourist centres of the 2012 Olympics.

Shaun Woodward: The economic benefits to the tourism sector of hosting the 2012 Olympic Gamesand Paralympic Games are projected at between£1.4 billion and £2 billion nationally. Although London's visitor economy will account for a significant proportion of that total, substantial benefits are expected across the country—not least, because 50 per cent. of inbound tourists to London visit other parts of the UK during their stays.
	My Department's forthcoming consultation on the DCMS Tourism 2012 Strategy will seek views on maximising the benefits of hosting the games for the English regions, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

2012 Olympics

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the percentage of hotel rooms planned to be available in London by the time of the 2012 Olympics which will be of an inspected standard.

Shaun Woodward: Consistent high quality in the standards of visitor accommodation in London and the rest of the country will be important to the success of the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, and to the tourism industry's making the most of their legacy. The percentage of hotel rooms in the capital which are presently subject to inspection under the grading schemes operated by VisitBritain and the Automobile Association is not available to my Department. However, it is generally accepted in the industry that the London percentage is significantly less than the average of 53 per cent. in membership of quality schemes across Great Britain.
	My Department will shortly be consulting on the DCMS 2012 Tourism Strategy, in partnership with VisitBritain and Visit London. Product quality, in London and the rest of Britain, will be prominent in that consultation.

Act (Royal Assent)

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list those  (a) Acts and  (b) parts of Acts which received Royal Assent between 1976 and 2006 and for which her Department has policy responsibility which remain in force.

David Lammy: The list of relevant Acts for which the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport is responsible is as follows: The Acts listed are as amended. No separate references are given for purely amending legislation.
	Theatres Trust Act 1976 (c. 27)
	Lotteries and Amusements Act 1976 (c. 32)
	Public Lending Right Act 1979 (c. 10)
	Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 (c. 46)
	National Heritage Act 1980 (c. 17)
	Licensed Premises (Exclusion of Certain Persons) Act 1980(c. 32)
	Licensing (Alcohol Education and Research) Act 1981 (c. 28)
	Horserace Betting Levy Act 1981 (c. 30)
	National Heritage Act 1983 (c. 47)
	Video Recordings Act 1984 (c. 39)
	Films Act 1985 (c. 21)
	Gaming (Bingo) Act 1985 (c. 35)
	Museum of London Act 1986 (c. 8)
	National Maritime Museum Act 1989 (c. 8)
	Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990(c. 9)
	Broadcasting Act 1990 (c. 42)
	Museums and Galleries Act 1992 (c. 44)
	National Lottery etc Act 1993 (c. 39)
	Olympic Symbol etc. (Protection) Act 1995 (c. 32)
	Treasure Act 1996 (c. 24)
	Broadcasting Act 1996 (c. 55)
	National Heritage Act 1997 (c. 14)
	Wireless Telegraphy Act 1998 (c. 6)
	National Lottery Act 1998 (c. 22)
	Royal Parks (Trading) Act 2000 (c. 13)
	Television Licences (Disclosure of Information) Act 2000 (c. 15)
	Office of Communications Act 2002 (c. 11)
	National Heritage Act 2002 (c. 14)
	Licensing Act 2003 (c. 17)
	Communications Act 2003 (c. 21)
	National Lottery (Funding of Endowments) Act 2003 (c. 23)
	Dealing in Cultural Objects (Offences) Act 2003 (c. 27)
	Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003 (c. 28)
	Horserace Betting and Olympic Lottery Act 2004 (c. 25)
	Gambling Act 2005 (c. 19)
	London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Act 2006 (c. 12)

Advertising Standards

Ian Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to ensure that the Advertising Standards Authority fulfils its duty to ban advertisements containing  (a) knives and  (b) other weapons.

Shaun Woodward: The Department for Culture Media and Sport supports the Advertising Standards Authority's role (ASA) as the independent regulator of advertising content There is not a ban on the depiction of all knives and weapons in advertising, although the Advertising Codes require that advertisements are responsible and do not condone violence. Each advertisement is considered on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the medium used, the product being advertised, the likely audience and whether a threat of violence is being depicted or condoned. The ASA will continue to take action against irresponsible advertisements.

Care Homes (TV Licences)

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will direct the Television Licensing Authority to exempt residents of short-stay respite care homes from requiring individual television licences.

Shaun Woodward: The BBC, as television licensing authority, is responsible for administering the licensing system and determining licensing requirements in individual cases. The Secretary of State has no power to direct the BBC, or its agent TV Licensing, as to the licensing requirements in individual cases or classes of case.
	As part of BBC Charter Review, the Government have looked carefully at the existing concessionary arrangements, with a special focus on the Accommodation for Residential Care scheme. As indicated in the White Paper published in March this year, the scheme gives rise to a number of apparent anomalies to which there is no simple solution. However, it helps a significant number of very vulnerable individuals. We therefore have no plans to amend the scheme.

Commonwealth Institute Building

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the future of the Commonwealth Institute Building.

David Lammy: Government recognise the importance of the Commonwealth Institute's work to support educational programmes to benefit young people in all 53 Commonwealth countries and understands that the building is no longer appropriate for that work. It would be inappropriate for me to comment further on this matter while discussions are still to be concluded.

Croquet

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her policy is on promoting the sport of croquet; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: Croquet is a sport recognised by Sport England, the Government's lead body on promoting grassroots sport, but it is not a priority or development sport that can seek direct funding through a "Whole Sport" plan. However, individual croquet clubs are eligible to apply for funding from Sport England's lottery community programmes although no funding has been awarded since 1998.
	Croquet continues to be promoted through its national governing body, the Croquet Association.

School Sports

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answerto the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable) of16 May 2006,  Official Report, column 859W, on school sports, how much has been awarded to  (a) Sport England,  (b) the Youth Sports Trust,  (c) the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and  (d) other partners charged with delivering the National School Sports Strategy over the three years 2003-04 to 2005-06; and if she will list the projects included.

Richard Caborn: Over the three years 2003-05 to 2005-06, joint DCMS/DfES funding to deliver projects and programmes within the National School Sport Strategy has been awarded as follows:
	
		
			  Organisation  Amount (£) 
			  (a) Sport England 35,934,600 
			 Step into Sport  
			 Club Links  
			 Coaching project  
			 Competition Managers  
			   
			  (b) Youth Sport Trust 20,797,130 
			 SSP support  
			 Sports Colleges  
			 Gifted and Talented  
			 International Links  
			 Playing for Success  
			 Sporting Playgrounds  
			 Living for Sport  
			 National Council for School Sport Secondment  
			 Pedometers in schools  
			 Step into Sport  
			 Club Links  
			   
			  (c) Qualifications and Curriculum Authority 1,338,000 
			 PESS investigation  
			   
			  (d) Other partners 26,918,690 
			   
			 CPD Consortium:  
			 (Association for Physical Education, Sports Coach UK, and Youth Sport Trust): Professional Development 18,200,000 
			   
			 Momenta:  
			 School Sport Partnership management contract 1,194,000 
			   
			 Panathlon:  
			 Panathlon Challenge 850,000 
			   
			 Amateur Swimming Association:  
			 Swimming Charter, Top Up 280,000 
			   
			 UK Sport:  
			 Coaching project 4,015,000 
			   
			 Sports Leaders UK (Previously British Sports Trust):  
			 Step into Sport 2,131,690 
			   
			 National Dance Teachers Association:  
			 Dance Links (Club Links) 80,000 
			   
			 Child Protection in Sport Unit:  
			 For Club Links related work 168,000

Sports Facilities (Shropshire)

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will congratulate Shrewsbury borough council on its new sports facility in Sundorne, Shrewsbury.

Richard Caborn: I am delighted that the extra investment this Government is making in community sports facilities and the Government's creation of new, community-focused bodies like the Football Foundation and the Big Lottery Fund have enabled the people of Shrewsbury to benefit from this impressive new Sports Village.

Survey Databases

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much her Department spent on surveys in each year since 1997.

David Lammy: Surveys have been defined as quantitative surveys of members of the public to which the Department has provided funding.
	Using this definition and based on the information available at this time, the following table shows the amount spent by the Department on surveys in each year since 1997.
	
		
			   Spent( 1)  (£) 
			 1997-98 — 
			 1998-99 30,000 
			 1999-2000 30,000 
			 2000-01 48,000 
			 2001-02 145,000 
			 2002-03 66,000 
			 2003-04 30,000 
			 2004-05 162,000 
			 2005-06 1,528,000 
			 2006-07(2) 2,740,000 
			 (1) Rounded to the nearest £1,000.(2) Includes estimated committed funds not yet spent. 
		
	
	Until the launch of Taking Part: The National Survey of Culture, Leisure and Sport in 2005, several of our non-departmental public bodies commissioned their own surveys. Taking Part is a collaborative, cross-sectoral survey and which can replace the need for our partner bodies to undertake their own surveys. Therefore, it is improving our understanding of cross-sectoral issues, it is a more authoritative source as the sample size can be increased compared to previous, sector-specific surveys and costs overall can be reduced.

Survey Databases

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether her Department has shared information collected from Government-funded surveys with other organisations since 1997.

David Lammy: Based on the information available at this time, findings from all quantitative surveys of the public have been released publicly, either as part of a statistical release or press notice.

Television Audio Description

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department is taking to increase availability of access to television audio description among blind and partially-sighted people; and if she will increase the television audio description targets to 20 per cent.

Shaun Woodward: The Government are committed to extending access to broadcasting services for those who are blind and partially-sighted. In relation to digital switchover, there will be special provision made to help registered blind viewers to receive audio description services. My Department is currently considering with the RNIB how we might provide help for households where one person is partially-sighted.
	The Department has no plans to increase audio description targets at present. However, we shall want to take account of the results of Ofcom's current review of their statutory code on Television Access Services, in which they have proposed that it would be better to review the statutory target for audio description when it is clearer how many potential beneficiaries will use it.

Tourism

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which 10 tourist attractions in  (a) Essex,  (b) Hertfordshire and  (c) the Metropolitan Police area of London and City of London Police area attracted the largest number of visitors in each of the last two years for which figures are available.

Shaun Woodward: My Department does not maintain central records of visitors to tourist attractions. However VisitBritain carries out periodical surveys of regional attractions as part of its work to support and promote tourism across Britain. Estimated visitor numbers for the 10 most popular attractions in these areas for 2003 and 2004 were as follows:
	
		
			  (a) Essex 
			   2003  2004 
			 Weald Country Park 500,000 500,000 
			 Colchester Zoo 541,628 469,928 
			 Hadleigh Castle Country Park 200,000 200,000 
			 Marsh Farm Country Park 146,992 147,346 
			 High Woods Country Park 130,000 140,000 
			 Audley End House 116,839 108,002 
			 Dedham Art and Craft Centre 75,000 80,000 
			 Chelmsford Museum 38,969 44,721 
			 Audley End Miniature Railway 42,509 42,175 
			 Great Motley Country Park and Discovery Centre 45,000 42,000 
		
	
	
		
			  (b) Hertfordshire 
			   2003  2004 
			 Stanborough Park 500,000 500,000 
			 Knebworth House 195,425 543,822 
			 Willows Farm Village 198,500 220,000 
			 Paradise Wildlife Park 217,000 209,000 
			 St. Albans Cathedral 247,600 200,000 
			 Aldenham Country Park 152,000 186,000 
			 Hatfield House 99,350 112,305 
			 Zoological Museum 80,614 96,443 
			 Verulamium Museum 79,146 78,988 
			 Lee Valley Boat Centre 36,000 35,235 
		
	
	
		
			  (c) Metropolitan Police area and the City of London 
			   2003  2004 
			 National Gallery 4,360,461 4,959,946 
			 British Museum 4,584,000 4,868,127 
			 Tate Modern 3,895,746 4,441,225 
			 British Airways London Eye 3,700,000 3,700,000 
			 Natural History Museum 2,857,153 3,240,344 
			 Science Museum 2,886,850 2,154,366 
			 Victoria and Albert Museum 2,257,325 2,010,825 
			 Tower of London 1,972,263 2,139,366 
			 National Portrait Gallery 1,315,402 1,516,402 
			 Kew Gardens 1,0616,91 1,063,384

Trooping the Colour

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the nations and territories whose flags will be displayed in Horse Guards Parade and the surrounding area for the Trooping the Colour 2006.

David Lammy: For Trooping the Colour the flags of the Commonwealth nations including the Union Flag are flown along Horse Guards Road. Union Flags are also flown along the Mall and outside Buckingham Palace around the Queen Victoria Memorial. The Union Flag is also flown on Horse Guards Building and on Government Buildings. White Ensigns are also flown from Admiralty Arch.
	 Flags flown along Horse Guards Road are as follows:
	United Kingdom
	Canada
	Australia
	New Zealand
	South Africa
	India
	Pakistan
	Sri Lanka
	Ghana
	Malaysia
	Cyprus
	Nigeria
	Sierra Leona
	Tanzania
	Jamaica
	Trinidad and Tobago
	Uganda
	Kenya
	Malawi
	Malta
	Zambia
	The Gambia
	Maldives
	Singapore
	Guyana
	Botswana
	Lesotho
	Barbados
	Mauritius
	Swaziland
	Nauru
	Tonga
	Samoa
	Fiji
	Bangladesh
	The Bahamas
	Grenada
	Papua New Guinea
	Seychelles
	Soloman Islands
	Tuvalu
	Dominica
	Saint Lucia
	Kiribati
	St. Vincent and Grenadines
	Vanuatu
	Belize
	Antigua and Barbuda
	St. Kitts and Nevis
	Brunei
	Namibia
	Cameroon
	Mozambique.

Whole Sport Plan

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much money has been allocated to the Whole Sport Plan; how much has been spent; and whether any money from within that budget is allocated to  (a) the 2012 Olympics and  (b) related purposes.

Richard Caborn: Sport England's total Whole SportPlan budget, which covers the four years 2005-09, is£165.7 million. This is split between 34 priority and development sports. A proportion of the budget is also currently used to fund a further 12 sports, albeit at lower levels than priority and development sports. This element of funding is currently under review.
	Of the above, £158.5 million has been committed(1)so far.
	There is no amount within the budget allocated specifically to 2012 Olympics or related purposes. However Whole Sport Plan investment is a key part of Sport England's overall drive to strengthen grassroots and community sport as part of achieving a lasting 2012 legacy.
	(1) Figures expressed as "committed" rather than "spent" are more stable and provide a truer expression of the amount of budget still available to be allocated.

African Countries (Medical Sector)

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to build and strengthen the capacity of the medical sector within African countries, with particular reference to measures to retain health workers.

Hilary Benn: Strengthening health services inAfrica is a DFID priority and we have contributed over £650 million to this since 2000. At Gleneagles in 2005, the UK pushed for a G8 commitment to strengthening African health systems and addressing the human resources for health crisis. Providing long-term predictable financing for expanding basic health services will be a priority for 2006 and beyond.
	DFID is tackling both "push" and "pull" incentives for health worker migration. In the UK, DFID has worked closely with the Department of Health to prevent the targeting of developing countries in the international recruitment of health care professionals. A list of countries has been agreed from which the NHS does not actively recruit—including all sub-Saharan African countries. In addition, the Department of Health has brokered a groundbreaking agreement for this code to apply to major players in the UK independent health care sector.
	But health worker shortages go beyond migration and international recruitment. There is also migration within countries from rural to urban areas and between countries in Africa and health professionals also move into non-health careers.
	In Africa, DFID has responded to health worker shortages through our support for health systems development. This will help countries deal with the "push" factors within their health systems such as poor pay, housing, training and career progression, job satisfaction and availability of equipment and drugs. For example, in Malawi, where the shortage of health workers is particularly severe, we have provided£100 million support to the health sector of which£55 million is earmarked for the Emergency Human Resources Programme.
	DFID is also continuing to work with the Department of Health to further develop the NHS Links programme and the Tropical Health Education Trust (THET) programme of support to health workers from less developed countries practising inthe UK.

African Countries (Medical Sector)

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to help African governments abolish healthcare fees; and what recent assessment he has made of whether the targets agreed at the G8 summit in 2005 will be met.

Gareth Thomas: DFID strongly supports the removal of official user fees for health, along with other barriers to the poor accessing health services, where governments choose to do so. For example, the UK has committed £14.5 million over five years to the Government of Zambia to support abolition of health user fees in public health facilities. Additional to our ongoing health sector reform programmes, we continue to look for opportunities to support similar policies to remove barriers to the poor accessing care.
	DFID publishes a monthly update to the "Gleneagles Implementation Plan for Africa", which set out the milestones to be met this year as a step towards delivery of the Gleneagles' commitments. Copies of the updated plan are placed monthly in the Libraries of both Houses. DFID also published a detailed report in March this year on the "Implementation of the Commission for Africa recommendations and G8 Gleneagles' commitment on poverty". Both the Plan and the report can be accessed from DFlD's website (www.dfid.gov.uk).
	At an international level, there will be a statement at the G8 St Petersburg summit on 15-17 July 2006 on progress made with delivery of the Gleneagles' commitments on Africa.
	At Gleneagles, the G8 agreed that the existing Africa Partnership Forum (APF) should be strengthened to monitor commitments made by Africa, the G8 and other development partners. An APF support unit is being established and is due to publish its first progress report in October 2006.

Biodiversity

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department plans to take to monitor the extent to which public bodies which report to him comply, from October, with their duty to conserve biodiversity in exercisingtheir functions, under section 40 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006.

Gareth Thomas: Under Section 40 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006, all public bodies have a duty to have regard to the conservation of biodiversity in the exercising of their functions. There is no statutory obligation on Departments to monitor the extent to which public bodies comply with this duty. However, we understand DEFRA is working with a wide range of partners to develop guidance for public bodies to support the implementation of this duty and will involve all relevant Departments on the development of guidance.
	DFID has no public bodies which reports to it which are likely to be affected by the Act.

Black/Asian Employees

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many  (a) black and Asian and  (b) other people are employed in his Department's press office.

Gareth Thomas: There are seven staff in DFID's Press Office. Information on staff ethnic origin is voluntary. We do hold information on the ethnicity of staff in the Private Office. However there are less than five ethnic minority staff in the Press Office and where the figures are less than five, it is normal practice not to divulge the number of staff in a particular category on the grounds of confidentiality.

Colombia

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support his Department provides for civil society and non-governmental organisations in Colombia; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: Through the Civil Society Challenge Fund (CSCF), DFID is supporting four international NGOs who are working with civil society and NGO partners in Colombia:
	i. War on Want (£214,000 over three years) is working with the Central Union of Workers in Cali in the promotion of workers and human rights in the Southwest of Colombia. The aim is to increase trade union and social organisations' capacity to defend the human rights of their constituency and to improve the Colombian Government's willingness to implement signed human rights conventions.
	ii. Concern International (£322,000 over three years) with its partner the Social Pastoral of the Archdiocese of Ibague are helping marginalised groups in the district of Tolima to demand and secure their constitutional rights, including access to clean water, adequate sanitation, health care and to education.
	iii. Y Care International (£46,000 over three years) with Colombian Christian Youth Associations and Youth movements are working to equip 1,200 marginalised and disadvantaged young people in Colombia with the skills, confidence and knowledge to effectively participate in local, municipal and national policy-making; implement local development and advocacy initiatives that address the needs of the most vulnerable children, young people and victims of conflict; and promote cultural heritage through participation in dance, music, drama and arts performance groups.
	iv. Opportunity International UK (£343,000 over three years) is working in the district of Narino, on the border with Ecuador, to support Internally Displaced Peoples own efforts towards achieving reintegration and self-sufficiency through income and employment generation, combining the efficient delivery of financial services with social interventions such as leadership development. This initiative will serve approximately 2,100 poor micro entrepreneurs in the district of Narino.
	DFID is also providing an additional £7 million a year under Partnership Programme Agreements with six international NGOs for their work in Latin America and the Caribbean. These include CAFOD, Christian Aid, Oxfam and WWF whose work in Colombia with local partners will benefit from these additional funds.

Country Engagement Plans

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary ofState for International Development whether his Department plans to publish its country engagement plans locally.

Gareth Thomas: Country and Regional Assistance Plans are public documents. Printed copies are actively distributed to stakeholders, both in the UK and in-country and they are available to all on DFID's website at www.dfid.gov.uk
	Plans are translated into local language for specific in-country distribution when appropriate. Recent examples of such plans include:
	
		
			  Country/region  Language(s) 
			 Southern Africa French and Portuguese 
			 Rwanda French and Kinya-rwandan 
			 Central Asia and South Caucasus Russian 
			 Iraq Arabic 
			 China Mandarin 
		
	
	Summary and 'Plain English' versions have also been produced. These include a summary version of the Regional Plan for Latin America and the production of a version of the Assistance Plan for Palestinians which was awarded a Crystal Mark for Plain English. DFID Nepal produced a standard plan for key decision-makers along with one in cartoon strip format for audiences not comfortable with the written word. Whilst in Nigeria, DFID used a weblog as part of its consultation process and promoted the final Country Assistance Plan through the media in-country.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made on reducing the numbers of Congolese living in poverty.

Hilary Benn: Assessing progress against the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is very difficult due to the lack to reliable data. The most recent social sector statistics data comes from a survey undertaken in 2001, which covered the third of the country under Government control at the time. DFID is supporting the Ministry of Plan's Demographic and Health Survey in 2006 to start addressing this lack of accurate data. The United Nation's Development Programme's human development report for 2005, based on the 2001 survey, reports most recent statistics on the MDGs in the DRC as follows:
	
		
			   Years  Percentage  Live Births 
			 Life expectancy 43 — — 
			 Children under 5 underweight for age — 31 — 
			 1 year olds immunised against measles — 54 — 
			 Births attended by skilled health personnel — 61 — 
			 Population undernourished — 71 — 
			 Percentage of population with access to improved water source — (1)46 — 
			 Percentage of population with access to improved sanitation — 29 — 
			 Infant mortality rate — — 129/1,000 
			 Under 5 mortality rate — — 205/1,000 
			 Maternal mortality rate — — 990/100,000 
			 HIV infection rate — 5.4 — 
			 Net primary enrolment — 54 — 
			 (1) 29 per cent. in rural areas. 
		
	
	The situation has worsened for much of the population since 1990—as a result of civil war, large scale population displacement and the weakness of the state. It has been estimated that an additional 3.5 million people have died as a result of the war, either as direct victims of the conflict or from associated increased levels of disease and malnutrition.
	DFID's engagement in the DRC has increased rapidly over recent years in recognition of the enormous humanitarian and development needs in the country. From spending £5.6 million in 2001-02, we have £62 million available this financial year. Our current transition programme follows the following themes:
	 1. Security and the Rule of Law
	Support for the disarmament, demobilisation and re-integration of ex-combatants through the Multi-Country Demobilisation and Re-integration Programme (MDRP), support to army integration, reform of the police and justice sector, and local level peacebuilding and dialogue initiatives through non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
	 2. Functioning State
	This includes support for the transition institutions (such as the Parliament, Electoral Commission and High Media Authority), the establishment of a professional and impartial media sector, and preparation for elections. The UK is the largest bilateral donor to the electoral process in the DRC.
	 3. Reconstruction
	Support for infrastructure within the Government's reconstruction plan, especially transport links; the development of a poverty reduction strategy paper (PRSP); support to the social sectors (health, education and water) largely through NGOs; and the fight against HIV/AIDS through the Joint United Nations Programme for HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and NGOs.
	 4. Natural Resources and Enhanced Revenue Generation
	We have funded research by Global Witness into the current state of natural resources management in the DRC. We are supporting the implementation of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) in the DRC and developing our plans for further support for effective and transparent natural resource extraction and the re-establishment of border control systems.
	 5. Humanitarian
	Around half of our programme is spent on humanitarian interventions either through UN agencies or NGOs, to address the complex and chronic humanitarian emergency that has faced the people of the DRC since the war. Our funding is principally channelled to the UN's Action Plan for the DRC through its pooled donor funding mechanism.

Departmental Expenditure

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the 10 non-public sector entities that have received the largest total sum of payments from his Department in each of the last five years.

Gareth Thomas: Tables below detail, the 10 non-public sector entities that have received the largest total sum of payments from the Department for International Development (DFID) in each of the last five years. The figures do not include grants to NGO's.
	
		
			  Table 1: 2005-06  £000 
			  Consultant  
			 HLSP Ltd 19,629 
			 ATOS Consulting Limited 14,269 
			 British Council (UK) 14,043 
			 Adam Smith International Ltd. 13,695 
			 HTSPE Limited 10,169 
			 The Crown Agents for Overseas Governments and Administrations Ltd 9,974 
			 Maxwell Stamp PLC 7,716 
			 WSP International Ltd 7,629 
			 Futures Group Europe Ltd 6,780 
			 Population Services International 6,610 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: 2004-05  £000 
			  Consultant  
			 HLSP Ltd 16,152 
			 British Council (UK) 14,388 
			 Natural Resources International Ltd 13,092 
			 ATOS Consulting Limited 12,075 
			 The Crown Agents for Overseas Governments and Administrations Ltd 11,685 
			 HTSPE Limited 11,612 
			 Adam Smith International Ltd. 8,786 
			 WSP International Ltd 8,321 
			 PricewaterhouseCoopers 7,404 
			 ActionAid 6,865 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: 2003-04  £000 
			  Consultant  
			 British Council (UK) 15,816 
			 Natural Resources International Ltd 14,740 
			 HLSP Ltd 14,200 
			 HTSPE Limited 13,040 
			 ATOS Consulting Limited 10,618 
			 Adam Smith International Ltd. 9,345 
			 WSP International Ltd 7,490 
			 Charles Kendall and Partners Limited 7,280 
			 ActionAid 6,207 
			 PricewaterhouseCoopers 5,700 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 4: 2002-03  £000 
			  Consultant  
			 British Council (UK) 19,084 
			 Natural Resources International Ltd 18,561 
			 HTS Consultants 12,102 
			 PricewaterhouseCoopers 8,671 
			 Futures Group Europe Ltd 8,549 
			 HLSP Ltd 8,003 
			 Adam Smith International Ltd. 7,243 
			 WSP International Ltd 6,770 
			 ATOS Consulting Limited 6,511 
			 Deloitte and Touche Emerging Markets 5,960 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 5: 2001-02  £000 
			  Consultant  
			 Natural Resources International Ltd 22,425 
			 British Council (UK) 18,965 
			 HTS Consultants 9,834 
			 WSP International Ltd 7,826 
			 PricewaterhouseCoopers 7,301 
			 Adam Smith International Ltd. 7,017 
			 The Crown Agents for Overseas Governments and Administrations Limited 6,953 
			 Population Services International 4,994 
			 HLSP Ltd 4,936 
			 Cambridge Education Consultants 4,778

Departmental Staff

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many staff in his Department did not achieve an acceptable mark in their annual report in each of the last three years; and what percentage this represented of the total number of staff in each case.

Gareth Thomas: DFID does not yet have individual staff performance ratings for 2005 as a new process and reporting year has recently been implemented. DFID figures for the three years prior to 2005 were as follows:
	
		
			   Unsatisfactory performance  Percentage of total staff 
			 2002 8 0.3 
			 2003 23 1 0 
			 2004 8 0.3

Ethiopia/Eritrea

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his assessment is of the effectiveness of financial support given by his Department to Ethiopia.

Hilary Benn: The financial support given by the UK to Ethiopia is being used effectively to reduce poverty; since 2000 we have seen real signs of progress towards the Millennium Development Goals.
	There has been a significant improvement in access to education—the primary school enrolment rate has risen from 37 per cent. to 74 per cent. of school age children and the adult literacy rate has increased from 26 per cent. of the population aged 15 and above, to38 per cent. between 2000 and 2004.
	Health indicators are also improving. The percentage of children under five that are underweight has fallen from 47 per cent. to 38 per cent. between 2000 and 2005. The infant mortality rate has fallen from 95 to 77 per 1,000 live births and the under five mortality rate has fallen from 141 to 123 per 1,000 over the same period. Childhood immunisation rates have also improved—for example, between 1996 and 2004 the proportion of children immunised against measles has increased from 39 per cent. to 59 per cent. The proportion of the population with access to safe water has increased from 19 per cent. in 2000 to 36 per cent. in 2004.
	The Productive Safety Nets Programme delivered cash and/or food to approximately 4.9 million targeted beneficiaries last year and represents a major step in improving the livelihoods of the poorest people.

Ethiopia/Eritrea

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department takes into account the amount spent by the Ethiopian Government on arms when deciding levels of aid given to Ethiopia.

Hilary Benn: Decisions on DFID's aid allocations to Ethiopia take account of the level of poverty in the country, the likely effectiveness of aid in reducing poverty, and the amount of aid which Ethiopia receives from other donors.
	The Ethiopian Government has reduced the proportion of its budget spent on defence from10.4 per cent. in 1999-2000 to 2.9 per cent. in 2005-06. The Government has maintained its defence budget in constant cash terms in spite of rising aid flows.

Ethiopia/Eritrea

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what UK bilateral aid to  (a) Ethiopia and  (b) Eritrea has been in each of the last three years; and what the planned figure is for the next three years.

Hilary Benn: UK bilateral aid to Ethiopia, excluding debt relief, was £43,308,019 in 2003-04. In 2004-05 it was £62,363,567. Final figures for 2005-06 are not yet available but are expected to be of the same order as the 2004-05 figure. In addition, DFID funding via the EC is estimated at £10.3 million and £11.3 million for 2003 and 2004 respectively, the latest years for which there are published figures. The planned figure for 2006-07 is £90 million and for 2007-08 is £130 million. I have just announced a new £94 million Protection of Basic Services grant over the next two years for financing local services such as village clinics, primary schools and water points. The World Bank is also contributing $215 million (£118 million).
	UK bilateral aid to Eritrea, excluding debt relief, was £2,368,613 in 2003-04. In 2004-05 it was £1,310,157. Final figures for 2005-06 are not yet available but are expected to be about double the 2004-05 figure. In addition, DFID funding via the EC is estimated at£1.7 million and £1.1 million for 2003 and 2004 respectively, the latest years for which there are published figures. The planned figure for 2006-07 is £3.8 million and for 2007-08 is £4.8 million.
	Budget figures beyond financial year 2007-08 are not yet available.

HIV/AIDS

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department is committing to the G8 summit goals relating to the provision of treatment for HIV/AIDS.

Gareth Thomas: The UK has committed to spend£1.5 billion between 2005-06 and 2007-08 to support activities to tackle the spread of HIV and AIDS. This will be used for activities which support the expansion of comprehensive HIV prevention programmes, treatment, care and support with the aim of achieving the Gleneagles commitment to universal access by 2010. We are working with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) who are leading the global effort of other donors, multilateral agencies, civil society and the private sector to ensure that additional resources are committed to support our efforts to achieve universal access.

HIV/AIDS

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to ensure the promotion of preventative strategies for HIV/AIDS.

Gareth Thomas: The UK is playing a substantial leadership role in AIDS and a key part of this is promoting access to HIV prevention strategies as well as to AIDS treatment and care. For example the UK used its European Union (EU) presidency to work with the European Commission and with member states to agree a common EU position on HIV prevention—the EU statement on HIV prevention for an AIDS free generation. The EU statement advises on the importance of comprehensive, rights and evidence based approaches to HIV prevention. This year the UK has worked hard to ensure that this advice is reflected in the outcome of the AIDS United Nations General Assembly high level meeting and we continue to press for such recognition in other key fora including the forthcoming G8 meetings.
	DFID provides support so that national governments in poor countries can develop and implement the policies and strategies that are necessary to ensure that the people who need them have access to comprehensive HIV prevention programmes, information, services and supplies including for the promotion of sexual and reproductive health.
	The UK has committed £1.5 billion to AIDS work over the period 2005-2008.

HIV/AIDS

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what conditions are attached to the funding his Department gives to African countries for the treatment of HIV/AIDS to ensure that the funding is directed towards the appropriate agencies and treatments.

Gareth Thomas: DFID's policy on 'Partnerships for Poverty Reduction: Rethinking Conditionally' (launched in March 2005) is that we will not make aid conditional on specific policy decisions. However, we believe that an effective aid partnership should be based on a shared commitment to three objectives: reducing poverty and achieving the millennium development goals; respecting human rights and other international obligations; and strengthening financial management and accountability, to reduce the risk of funds being misused through weak administration or corruption. We will consider reducing or interrupting aid if partner Governments deviate significantly from any of these objectives.
	In supporting HIV and AIDS programmes in Africa, DFID uses a range of different funding channels to help ensure that resources are directed towards appropriate agencies and treatments. In countries with sound poverty reduction plans and public financial management, we can provide poverty reduction budget support directly into a Government's treasury. We can also ear-mark funding for specific government sector budgets. And we also fund projects, especially when it is not possible to work through government budgets.In all cases, DFID officials work closely with Governments and civil society to help ensure that policy and programme choices are appropriate. We also monitor the progress and impact of programmes that we fund and take lessons into account when making future decisions.
	In addition, DFID is currently undertaking an assessment of mechanisms for channelling DFID funding to the point of care for orphans and children made vulnerable by HIV (OVCs).

HIV/AIDS

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to encourage the development of new generic versions of drugs for the treatment of HIV/AIDS.

Gareth Thomas: The United Kingdom (UK) is committed to increasing access to medicines in developing countries, including the development of new generic drugs for HIV/AIDS. To this end weare working with Governments, international organisations, pharmaceutical companies, academia and private foundations. There have been some important successes over the last few years such as doubling in UK funding to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and malaria to £100 million in 2006-07 and £100 million in 2007-08, resulting in long term policy and financial signals to ensure a sustainable supply of key drugs. In addition, the UK has increased its direct funding for research to develop vaccines and medicines for diseases disproportionately affecting the poor, in particular through the financing of Product Development Partnerships (PDPs).

HIV/AIDS

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his Department's strategy is for ensuring that the Gleneagles G8 summit goals in relation to rapid expansion of treatment for HIV/AIDS are achieved; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: The UK's strategy for tackling HIV and AIDS epidemic in the developing world is set out in the Government's strategy 'Taking Action'. We have also worked closely with the Joint United Nations Programme for HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), other Governments and multilateral agencies, through the Global Steering Committee on Scaling Up Towards Universal Access (which DFID co-chaired with UNAIDS) to set out the priorities for action in order to achieve the Gleneagles commitment to achieve universal access to prevention, treatment and care by 2010. These priorities were reflected in the Political Declaration agreed at the United Nations General Assembly on AIDS (2 June 2006), which provides a political blueprint for achieving universal access.
	The UK played an active role in negotiations. It sets out commitments for countries to develop, by the end of 2006, ambitious national plans to scale up towards universal access by 2010 to comprehensive HIV prevention programmes, treatment, care and support, with interim targets for 2008; to provide $20-23 billion annually by 2010 for AIDS responses; to put in place comprehensive prevention strategies; to promote the rights and reduce the vulnerability of sex workers, men who have sex with men, children, women, adolescent girls and drug users; to intensify efforts to develop new technology especially microbicides and vaccines; that no credible, sustainable national plan should go unfunded; to reaffirm the importance of countries employing the flexibilities within Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights Agreement (TRIPS) to protect public health, and to strengthen countries' capacities to do so.

HIV/AIDS

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures his Department is taking to encourage the pharmaceutical industry to develop paediatric drugs for children with HIV in the developing world.

Gareth Thomas: The United Kingdom (UK) is committed to increasing access to medicines in developing countries, including the development of paediatric drugs for children with HIV. To this end, DFID is working with Governments, international organisations, pharmaceutical companies, academia and private foundations. For example, the launch of the UK Government policy document 'Increasing peoples access to medicines in developing countries: a framework for good practice in pharmaceutical industry' in March 2005, encourages pharmaceutical companies to reduce prices of existing formulations; develop new products; provide voluntary licenses to others to develop paediatric formulations and produce fixed dose combinations.
	More recently, the UK has agreed to support the French initiative on setting up an international drugs purchase facility (IDPF). We expect this to have a positive impact on stimulating the pharmaceutical industry to develop paediatric drugs.

HIV/AIDS

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the likelihood of the Gleneagles G8 summit target of ensuring universal access to HIV treatment being achieved by 2010.

Gareth Thomas: The United Nations General Assembly met on 31 May to 2 June to discuss progress against the 2001 Declaration of Commitment on AIDS, which sets out the international community's commitment to halt and reverse the spread of HIV and AIDS. The UN Secretary-General presented to this meeting, an assessment of progress which underlines the challenge that we face in meeting the Gleneagles commitment to provide universal access to prevention, treatment and care by 2010. The Secretary- General's report shows that only 9 per cent. of HIV-infected pregnant women are currently on anti-retrovirals, and that only 20 per cent. of people with advanced HIV are on anti-retrovirals. While this shows the scale of outstanding need, it is noteworthy that since 2001 the number of Africans on treatment has risen eight-fold. A full copy of the report can be found on the Joint United Nations Programme fro HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) website at: http://daccessods.un.org/access.nsf/Get?Open&DS=A/60/736&Lang=E.

Human Trafficking

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department is supporting campaigns and projects to educate communities about human trafficking in  (a) Moldova,  (b) Albania and  (c) China.

Gareth Thomas: In China, DFID is providing £3.075 million in support of an International Labour Organisation (ILO) project which helps to reduce the vulnerability of girls and young women to trafficking. The project covers activities in Anhui, Henan and Hunan provinces, from which girls and young women are trafficked, and in Guangdong and Jiangsu provinces which receive them. The project is being implemented over four years. It started in May 2004.
	DFID is not supporting such campaigns or projects in Albania. Until 2000, DFID contributed to the funding of a centre in Vlora for trafficked women and girls returned to Albania. The centre aims to educate young women about the risk of becoming victims of trafficking. In 2003, DFID contributed to the purchase of equipment for a centre in Tirana, managed by the Institute of Migration (IoM), that seeks to give employment to returned female victims of trafficking.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is providing 238,000 through the IoM, to foster safe migration and prevent human trafficking. The project aims to build the capacity of the state infrastructure in Albania to provide information to potential migrants, vulnerable groups at risk of human trafficking, the media, government officials, non-government organisations (NGOs) and the general public. The project includes a national telephone hotline to provide information on legal migration, and enable members of the public to report people-trafficking to the authorities.
	In 2005, the FCO provided £500,000 for work by the IoM with returned Albanian migrants, many of whom have been trafficked. By assisting their re-integration, the project aims to reduce the risk of repeat trafficking.
	In Moldova, the IoM manages an extensive, nationwide programme on trafficking which has included a feature film, TV, radio and public service announcements, has established Migration Information Centres, organised seminars for local authorities, and produced hotline promotional stickers and other information material distributed at Moldovan border crossings. In partnership with the Moldovan Migration Department, IoM launched in 2004 a website and mobile information centre that distributed information on legal migration and the dangers of trafficking. Other information and education activities on trafficking in Moldova are provided by the NGO La Strada, including seminars, educational materials, a resource centre and hot line. La Strada has received support from the FCO.
	DFID's bilateral programmes, and support to multilateral agencies, aim to reduce poverty and some of the root causes leading to human trafficking. This includes creating economic opportunities, promoting pro-poor sustainable growth, conflict resolutionand improving governance and the institutional environment for poverty reduction.

Palestinian Territories

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of whether British aid is reaching humanitarian projects in the Palestinian Territories to ensure the  (a) electricity,  (b) water,  (c) food,  (d) health and  (e) educational needs of the Palestinian people are met.

Hilary Benn: The UK Government are concerned to support the basic needs of the Palestinian people. Until the Hamas-led government renounces violence, recognises Israel's right to exist and accepts previous agreements and obligations we cannot provide aid to the Palestinian Cabinet or its ministries. However, there are other ways to help Palestinians directly and we are doing all that we can to assist.
	Since the Hamas Government came to power, the largest component of our assistance has been a£15 million contribution through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). UNRWA provides health, education, housing, food and jobs to approximately 40 per cent. of Palestinians who are registered refugees. This aid is getting through to people who need it most.
	In addition, DFID is working closely with the European Commission and others to develop a temporary international mechanism to provide direct assistance to the Palestinian people. This will include those who are not registered as refugees and therefore do not receive help through UNRWA. Our hope is that such a mechanism will be established as soon as possible.

Public Transport (Incentives)

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what incentives are available to encourage members of his staff to use public transport for travelling to and from work.

Gareth Thomas: DFID provides interest free loans to staff for the purchase of travel season tickets. This is the only direct incentive we provide to staff, although we also publicise public transport alternatives, engage with local authorities on the provision of public transport around our East Kilbride office, and monitor and report on trends in our Green Transport Plans.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the World Food Programme support to Sudan; how much of that aid is funded; and which regions of the country  (a) are and  (b) will be receiving World Food Programme supplies.

Hilary Benn: The World Food Programme (WFP) emergency operation in Sudan which I discussed with Jim Morris of the WFP on 8 June, is the largest in the world. The UK has provided £49 million to the Common Humanitarian Fund (CHF) this year, of which the WFP has been the largest recipient. We are also supporting the WFP in the development of their five-year strategic plan for Sudan, and have provided the WFP with £5 million for road projects in the south.
	Only 49.5 per cent. of the WFP's 2006 budget has been funded to date. As a result, the WFP were forced earlier in the year to halve food rations to Darfur temporarily, though ration levels elsewhere have been maintained. Recent additional support from two key food aid donors (the EU and the US), and a contribution of 20,000 tonnes of Sorghum from the Government of Sudan, has since enabled the WFP to increase the ration level in Darfur to 84 per cent. Reinstatement of full ration may be possible by October, though this is still not certain.
	This year, the WFP is providing over 730,000 MT of food aid to approximately 6.1 million people across Sudan. Of this, 2.7 million are in Darfur, 2 million are in the south, 1 million in the three states of South Kordofan, Abyei and Blue Nile, around 250,000 in eastern Sudan, and smaller numbers in other parts of the country.

Traditional Knowledge

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the Government's policy is on the  (a) maintenance and  (b) extraction of value from the exploitation of traditional knowledge for indigenous communities in developing countries.

Gareth Thomas: In its 2003 response to the report from the Commission on Intellectual Property Rights the UK Government broadly endorsed the analysis provided by the Commission on traditional knowledge (TK). In particular, the UK Government recognised the important part that traditional knowledge plays in the livelihood of many poor communities in developing countries, and thus the need to protect it.
	As a signatory of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) the UK has agreed to
	"respect, preserve and maintain knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities ... and encourage the equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilisation of such knowledge, innovations and practice".
	Discussions as to how best these objectives can be achieved are ongoing in the CBD and in the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Inter-Governmental Committee on Traditional Knowledge, Folklore and Genetic Resources (IGC) and the UK is committed to achieving agreement on an international system which achieves these objectives
	The UK Patent Office is working with other members of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) on the development of appropriate TK databases which patent examiners can consult when dealing with patent applications involving TK. This will reduce the risk of patents being granted wrongly on existing TK.

Engagements

Nigel Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchyof Lancaster if she will list her engagements for25 May 2006.

Hilary Armstrong: I had various engagements on25 May 2006 including Cabinet, meetings with ministerial colleagues and officials and external stakeholders.

Public Transport (Incentives)

David Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what incentives are available to encourage members of her staff to use public transport for travelling to and from work.

Patrick McFadden: The vast majority of Cabinet Office employees are located in central London and travel to and from work by public transport.
	Permanent staff (including staff on loan to the Cabinet Office) may apply for an advance to purchase a train or bus season ticket and/or a bicycle for travel to and from work. This advance is an interest-free loan and payment is recovered from the individual's salary in up to 12 monthly deductions.
	The Cabinet Office will be encouraging more sustainable travel (business and travel to and from work) among its employees depending on the nature and circumstances of particular sites, but which will not include financial incentives for participation. For example, the Cabinet Office's Environmental Policy is currently being revised and the travel policy section is being strengthened to this effect. It will also encourage employees to car share where public transport is not reasonably accessible travelling to and from work.
	Further initiatives will be considered as part of any Government-wide publicity campaigns on travelling more sustainably and the Cabinet Office's membership of the Civil Service Travel Group (CSTG). The CSTG aims to improve travel sustainability across the entire civil service by developing and delivering on action plans for each Department.

A13 Junction, Sadlers Farm, Essex

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to approve the upgrade to the A13 junction at Sadlers Farm, Essex; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: We are carefully considering Essex county council's major scheme business case for the Thames Gateway A13/A130 Sadlers Farm Junction scheme alongside the advice received from the eastern region on the priority it attaches to this and other schemes in the region within the indicative funding allocation for major transport schemes announced last July. We hope to respond to Essex on their business case and to make an announcement before the summer recess.

Airbus 380

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 25 May 2006,  Official Report, column 1945W, on Airbus 380, whether public expenditure was incurred for seats on the Heathrow Express for ministerial and civil servants going to the event.

Gillian Merron: The Department incurred costs of £27 for return seats on the Heathrow Express for civil servants going to the event.

BAE 146 Aircraft

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether beryllium is used  (a) in the manufacture and  (b) as parts in the Honeywell ALF-(i) 502 and (ii) 507 engine used on the British Aerospace BAE 146 aircraft.

Gillian Merron: Both these engines are manufactured in the United States and are US type-certificated products. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the engine manufacturer, Honeywell, have confirmed to the Civil Aviation Authority that there was no beryllium used within the parts that are of original Honeywell design. The FAA and Honeywell also advised that the only likelihood of beryllium in the type certified engine would be trace quantities possibly in aluminium castings or in some components designed and manufactured by sub-contractors.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost has been of the Driver Vehicle and Licensing Agency Diversity Unit since its establishment; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The following figures are the total expenditure incurred by DVLA's Diversity Unit since its start in August 2004.
	
		
			   £ 
			 2004-05 67,000 
			 2005-06 (Provisional outturn) 276,000 
		
	
	The agency's Diversity Unit is responsible for setting, agreeing and implementing the agency's diversity policies and the action plans to ensure compliance with the public sector duties of diversity legislation such as the Race Relations (Amendment) and Disability Discrimination Acts. It focuses attention within the agency on ensuring that all staff and customers can access and use agency facilities and services, and meet its business aims for road safety. The Diversity Unit was formed in August 2004 from the basis of the agency's equal opportunities team that had been in existence for more than 10 years.

Government Vehicles

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average level of emissions in grams of carbon per kilometre was of the Government's car fleet in the last period for which figures are available.

Stephen Ladyman: The Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) provides transport for Ministers and senior officials in line with the Prime Minister's guidance Travel by Ministers.
	In 2004-05, the last period for which figures are available, the average carbon dioxide emission from the GCDA's car fleet was 232.03 grams per kilometre. Figures for 2005-06 will became available later in the summer.

Highways Agency

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many complaints by the general public concerning the Highways Agency have been received in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement

Stephen Ladyman: Figures for written complaints by the general public to the Highways Agency are only available from 2000 following the installation of a new computerised correspondence recording system late in 1999. Figures for oral complaints to the Highways Agency's information line are only available from 2001 due to changes in recording systems.
	The figures are:
	
		
			   Written complaints  Oral complaints 
			 2006 (January to May) 443 2,428 
			 2005 1,406 3,527 
			 2004 1,358 2,478 
			 2003 1,500 3,128 
			 2002 1,843 3,458 
			 2001 2,622 3,037 
			 2000 3,727 n/a

M4 (Junction 11)

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when his Department expects to take a decision on funding for M4 junction 11 improvements.

Stephen Ladyman: We are currently considering advice from the south-east region on the priority it attaches to this and other major transport schemes in the south-east within the regional funding allocations announced last July. We hope to announce our response to the region's advice before the summer recess.

Railways

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many  (a) incidents of objects thrown at or dropped on moving railway vehicles,  (b) derailments,  (c) incidents of livestock wandering onto the track,  (d) collisions between moving railway vehicles and  (e) suicides of (i) males and (ii) females, broken down by age group, were recorded on the C2C Rail Ltd line between London Fenchurch Street and Southend Central in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Derek Twigg: The British Transport Police (BTP) have provided the following information:
	 (a) The number of crimes recorded by the BTP for stone throwing (no damage) and damage to rolling stock by stone throwing on the railway route between London Fenchurch Street and Southend Central is shown as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  Number of crimes 
			 2001-02 37 
			 2002-03 26 
			 2003-04 51 
			 2004-05 75 
			 2005-06 61 
		
	
	 (b) The BTP have recorded no incidents of derailments on this specific route.
	 (c) The number of incidents recorded by the BTP where livestock have wandered onto tracks is shown in the table as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  Number of incidents 
			 2001-02 2 
			 2002-03 3 
			 2003-04 1 
			 2004-05 1 
			 2005-06 2 
		
	
	 (d) BTP have no records of collisions between moving railway vehicles during the last five financial years on this route.
	 (e) The number of fatalities recorded by the BTP on the route during the financial years between 1 April 2003 and 31 March 2006 is shown as follows:
	
		
			  Year/Age group  Male  Female 
			  2003-04   
			 20 to 30 2 0 
			 80 to 90 1 0 
			
			  2004-05   
			 20 to 30 1 0 
			
			  2005-06   
			 20 to 30 0 1 
		
	
	Data prior to April 2003 can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Roads

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effectof road schemes approved through the targeted programme of improvements and local transport plans on reduction of carbon dioxide emissions.

Stephen Ladyman: The carbon dioxide impacts of road schemes approved through the Targeted Programme of Improvements and Local Transport Plans form part of the Department's normal approval processes for major transport schemes. The impact of road schemes inthe Highways Agency Targeted Programme of Improvements, consistent with the Future of Transport White Paper, is estimated to be around an additional 0.1 million tonnes of carbon (MtC), a tenth of the carbon savings expected in 2010 from the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation. The overall implications for carbon dioxide emissions of Local Transport Plans have not been modelled, but LTPs are subject to individual Strategic Environmental Assessments which carefully consider these impacts.

Best Value Surveys

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent representations her Department has received on the carrying out of Best Value surveys.

Phil Woolas: The Department conducted a consultation exercise on the 2006-07 Best Value User Satisfaction surveys between 14 December 2005 and6 February 2006. 199 responses from 241 organisations were received (some organisations chose to respond in consortia). A feedback document analysing responses to the consultation paper will be published shortly.In addition, we have subsequently received correspondence on this subject from three local authorities and two MPs.

Best Value Surveys

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what research her Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the different types of methodology available to carry out Best Value surveys.

Phil Woolas: The Department has commissioned three pieces of research concerning the methodology applied in the Best Value Performance Indicator (BVPI) user satisfaction surveys.
	The first, published in 2002, was conducted by the Office for National Statistics and reviewed local authorities' experience of the 2000-01 surveys, including the different methodologies applied.
	The second, carried out by Ipsos MORI, which reported in March 2003 concerned the development of questions for the Best Value general and benefits surveys, piloting those surveys, and advising on guidance for the surveys.
	The third was conducted by BMG and concerned the development of new sections of questions for the 2006-07 BVPI surveys (we anticipate the publication of this work in the autumn of 2006). The new questions formed part of the recent consultation of local authorities on the BVPI surveys.
	In addition to this work, following the 2003-04 surveys, 'in-house' analysis concerning the impact of methodology on response rate, using data supplied by local authorities, has also been conducted. These analyses also considered factors such as deprivation and ethnicity. This work found no evidence of a significant difference in response rate between postal and face-to-face methods even after allowing for context and respondent group.

Chief Rents

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the number of freehold properties in Greater Manchester subject to chief rents; and if she will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The information requested is notheld centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Council House Sales

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the Answer of 17 March 2006,  Official Report, column 2583W, on council house sales, what measures her Department takes to ensure local authorities use the25 per cent. of retained capital receipts from the sale of council housing under the right-to-buy scheme on capital rather than revenue programmes.

Yvette Cooper: The only ways in which local authorities may use their capital receipts are set outin regulation 23 of the Local Authorities (CapitalFinance and Accounting) (England) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/3146, as amended). Receipts retained from sales of council housing may be used for capital expenditure but not normally for revenue expenditure.

Departmental Pensions

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will estimate the pension liability of her Department over the next 30 years.

Angela Smith: The information requested is available in the technical Note issued by HM Treasury which was placed in the Library of the House on2 March 2006 following an oral statement in Parliament by the then Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Columns 388-390. Pension liabilities are not estimated for individual departments, they are estimated for individual pension schemes, as shown in the breakdown of liabilities per pension scheme given in Table 1 of the technical Note.

Deprivation Indicators (Peterborough)

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authority wards in the Peterborough city council area are in the top 30 per cent. of wards in England by multiple deprivation indicators; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The Indices of Deprivation 2004 (ID 2004) was constructed at Super Output Area (SOA) level rather than ward level to overcome problems associated with frequently changing ward boundaries and lack of consistency in population size. SOAs are a better measure as they are consistent in size and overtime, and they allow better identification of small pockets of deprivation. There are 32,482 SOAs in England, each with an average population of 1,500 people.
	The ID 2004 ranks areas according to their level of deprivation, relative to other areas in the country. Peterborough City has 42 per cent. of its 104 SOAs among the 30 per cent. most deprived SOAs in England. The following table lists these SOAS and identifies the wards in which they are located. There are three wards (Central, East and North) where all the SOAs within those wards fall within the 30 per cent. most deprived in the country.
	
		
			  SOA code  Ward name  Local authority  GO Region  Rank of IMD (where 1 = most deprived) 
			 E01015593 Bretton North Peterborough East of England 5,997 
			 E01015596 Bretton North Peterborough East of England 7,967 
			 E01015595 Bretton North Peterborough East of England 9,435 
			 E01015597 Bretton South Peterborough East of England 7,039 
			 E01015599 Central Peterborough East of England 1,880 
			 E01015600 Central Peterborough East of England 1,980 
			 E01015604 Central Peterborough East of England 2,389 
			 E01015602 Central Peterborough East of England 4,443 
			 E01015603 Central Peterborough East of England 5,211 
			 E01015601 Central Peterborough East of England 5,592 
			 E01015609 Dogsthorpe Peterborough East of England 857 
			 E01015607 Dogsthorpe Peterborough East of England 2,740 
			 E01015610 Dogsthorpe Peterborough East of England 5,113 
			 E01015605 Dogsthorpe Peterborough East of England 5,953 
			 E01015608 Dogsthorpe Peterborough East of England 7,849 
			 E01015606 Dogsthorpe Peterborough East of England 8,715 
			 E01015616 East Peterborough East of England 1,954 
			 E01015611 East Peterborough East of England 2,699 
			 E01015612 East Peterborough East of England 4,959 
			 E01015657 East Peterborough East of England 5,053 
			 E01015613 East Peterborough East of England 7,078 
			 E01015615 East Peterborough East of England 8,894 
			 E01015622 Fletton Peterborough East of England 9,004 
			 E01015633 North Peterborough East of England 6,934 
			 E01015632 North Peterborough East of England 8,128 
			 E01015634 North Peterborough East of England 8,834 
			 E01015642 Orton Longueville Peterborough East of England 4,435 
			 E01015639 Orton Longueville Peterborough East of England 4,652 
			 E01015637 Orton Longueville Peterborough East of England 6,638 
			 E01015641 Orton Longueville Peterborough East of England 9,023 
			 E01015643 Orton Longueville Peterborough East of England 9,519 
			 E01015647 Orton Waterville Peterborough East of England 4,155 
			 E01015654 Park Peterborough East of England 9,246 
			 E01015658 Paston Peterborough East of England 4,804 
			 E01015660 Paston Peterborough East of England 8,035 
			 E01015656 Paston Peterborough East of England 8,394 
			 E01015664 Ravensthorpe Peterborough East of England 3,204 
			 E01015663 Ravensthorpe Peterborough East of England 3,677 
			 E01015662 Ravensthorpe Peterborough East of England 7,848 
			 E01015661 Ravensthorpe Peterborough East of England 9,706 
			 E01015668 Stanground Central Peterborough East of England 6,024 
			 E01015666 Stanground Central Peterborough East of England 9,600 
			 E01015673 Stanground East Peterborough East of England 8,257 
			 E01015680 Werrington North Peterborough East of England 6,694

Energy Performance of Buildings Directive

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will publish her Department's latest response to the European Commission setting out a timetable for implementation of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.

Yvette Cooper: The European Commission has been notified that implementation of the technical requirements of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive is through an amendment of the Building Regulations. These measures came into effect on6 April 2006. A copy of the Statutory Instrument and Transposition Note that sets out how these regulations implement the directive has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament.
	There is a three-year derogation period, to apply folly the requirements in the directive for energy certificates and plant inspections. I expect to make a further announcement and to notify the European Commission soon about implementation of these procedural requirements.

Hedges (North Somerset)

John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many orders have been made to remove hedges in North Somerset under the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003.

Yvette Cooper: The information requested is notheld centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Under the Anti-social Behaviour Act, local authorities may require remedial works to hedges but not their removal.

Home Information Packs

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer about the likely impact of home information packs on the housing market; and if she will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The Government have worked with Her Majesty's Treasury, The Cabinet Office, The Department for Food and Rural Affairs and The Department for Trade and Industry on different aspects of the Home Information Packs (HIPs). The purpose of HIPs is to increase the efficiency of the housing market.

Hotel Tax

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if her Department will undertake a review drawing on international research and experience into the effect of a hotel, tourist or bed tax; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: My Department does not have any plans to undertake such a review. Sir Michael Lyons is carrying out an independent inquiry to make recommendations for the reform of council tax, and to analyse the options for shifting the balance of funding, including the potential for other possible local taxes and charges. He will submit his final report and recommendations at the end of 2006. The Government will not take any decisions on changes to local government finance until it has had the chance to consider and reflect on Sir Michael's report.

Housing

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans she has to increase the supply of affordable housing in West Suffolk.

Yvette Cooper: The Government have allocateda significant increase in funding for the East ofEngland for 2006-08, much of which will be investedin new affordable housing. In West Suffolk, the Regional Housing Board for the East of England has allocated just over £5.5 million over 2006-08, which is expected to deliver 214 new affordable units, via the Housing Corporation's National Affordable Housing Programme.

Index of Multiple Deprivation

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will make a statement on the present composition of the Index of Multiple Deprivation.

Phil Woolas: The Index of Multiple Deprivation 2004 (IMD 2004) combines a number of indicators, chosen to cover a range of economic, social and housing issues into a single deprivation score for each lower layer super output area (SOA) (there are 32,482 SOAs in England), and are relative measurements between SOA's.
	The Index is based on "super output area" level data and is made up of seven domains of deprivation. These are:
	Income
	Employment deprivation
	Health and Disability deprivation
	Education, skills and training deprivation
	Barriers to Housing and Services
	Crime
	Living Environment
	Each of these domains is made up of a number of indicators, which best reflect the different dimensions of deprivation. The Index is based on 37 indicators in total. The indicators and domains are weighted and brought together to form the IMD 2004.

Local Government

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what consultations her Department is undertaking on local government re-organisation.

Phil Woolas: We have been engaged in a wideranging debate about local governance, including the future of two-tier arrangements in the shire areas and will finalise our position at about the same time as the publication of the proposed White Paper later in the year.

Public Transport (Incentives)

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what incentives are available to encourage members of her staff to use public transport for travelling to and from work.

Angela Smith: The Department offers interest free loans to enable staff to buy season tickets for use on public transport.

Civil Service Uniform

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will review the neutrality of civil service uniform insignia used in Northern Ireland; and if he will seek the advice of the Equality Commission on the matter.

David Hanson: The design of the uniform worn by security guards and certain other staff has been reviewed as the need has arisen to replace parts of the uniform, and some changes have been made. The aim has been to modernise the uniform and to make it less formal, particularly in response to the improved security situation and the greater access by the public to areas such as the Stormont Estate and Hillsborough Castle. There are plans to look at other aspects of their uniform, including insignia, and in line with normal NICS practice this would involve consultation with the Equality Commission.
	Any private sector security staff working in buildings, which are part of the Workplace 2010 project, will not be required to wear NICS uniforms.

Emission Testing

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what  (a) pre-testing and  (b) other research has been carried out on the proposed diesel emission test to be introduced into Northern Ireland.

David Cairns: DVTA's equipment was purchased in 2001 as part of a PFI contract for all MOT testing equipment. Prior to finalising this contract, extensive research and trials were conducted to ensure the equipment could meet the needs of the agency and conduct a quality test fully compliant with legislation. This equipment is the same as that currently used in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland.
	Following procurement, further trials of the diesel test equipment took place in Cookstown DVTA test centre, and from this time Larne DVTA centre has offered the diesel emission test to customers on a voluntary basis.
	DVTA are heavily committed to research and development, and liaise with many testing organisations worldwide to ensure best practice testing is being maintained in Northern Ireland. These experiences and advice received from other organisations that have been conducting this test for many years served to inform DVTA's research on this matter.

Emission Testing

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received on the new diesel emissions test to be introduced into Northern Ireland.

David Cairns: No representations have beenreceived on the new diesel emissions test introduced by the Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency (DVTA) on1 March 2006.
	However, DVTA have held meetings with representative bodies from the motor industry, including the Freight Transport Association, the Road Haulage Association and the Retail Motor Industry Federation. These meetings included demonstrations of the testing process and a chance for the industry to ask questions about the test and be given more information.

Sexual Offences (Young Persons)

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps the Public Prosecution Service is taking to develop a protocol with  (a) child protection agencies,  (b) voluntary treatment providers and  (c) the police regarding young people in treatment programmes following the commission of sexual offences; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: The PPS have advised that they have commenced a series of meetings with representatives from PSNI, NSPCC, Barnardos and social services to take forward issues regarding young people in treatment programmes following the commission by them of sexual offences. Additionally, at present, it is open to those responsible for treatment programmes for young people who have committed sexual offences and who are undergoing treatment to provide information through the police to the PPS in relation to the treatment being provided and to the young person being treated, which information may be relevant to the PPS in reaching decisions as to prosecution, or no prosecution as the case may be.

Sinn Fein Fundraising

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has made representations to the US Administration about the current restrictions on fundraising that have been imposed on Sinn Fein politicians visiting the United States; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: The issuing of visas and the impositionof any requirements are matters for the US Administration.

Arts Foundation Courses

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many students in England are undertaking an arts foundation course;
	(2)  which higher education institutions in England offer a degree course in art and design and do not require a successful completion of an art foundation course as a condition of entry.

Bill Rammell: The latest available information shows that in English higher education institutions in 2004/05, there were 300 students enrolled on foundation courses which led to a degree course in Creative Arts and Design. Comparable information for further education colleges is not held centrally.
	Information on the precise entry requirements for specific degree courses is not held centrally. The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) provide a list of entry requirements for the art and design courses listed on their website at www.ucas.ac.uk. This includes some degree courses which require a foundation course for entry, although in the main the entry requirements are shown in terms of the UCAS tariff points score rather than specific qualifications.

Autistic Spectrum Disorders

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many under 16-years-olds with autistic spectrum disorders were not in full-time education in each parliamentary constituency in England in the last 12 months for which figures are available;
	(2)  what percentage of children with autistic spectrum disorders attending mainstream schools receive full-time support in each parliamentary constituency in England;
	(3)  how many children with autistic spectrum disorders attend  (a) special and  (b) mainstream secondary schools in each parliamentary constituency in England.

Parmjit Dhanda: Since 2004, the Department for Education and Skills has collected data on pupils by type of special educational needs (SEN) as part of the annual school census. A table showing pupils with SEN supported at 'School Action Plus' or with a statement of SEN where autistic spectrum disorder is recorded as their primary need has been placed in the Library.
	There are a range of factors which may affect the data recorded, including:
	local interpretation of definitions;
	classification of children with multiple needs; and
	differences in diagnoses between education and health professionals.
	The Department does not collect data on the number of children with particular types of SEN who are not in school full-time. All children of compulsory school age are expected to receive full-time education suitable to  (a) their age, ability and aptitude and  (b) to any special educational needs they may have, either by regular attendance at school or otherwise.
	Some children may not be receiving full-time education, for example children who are out of school because of illness or children who have been excluded and not yet placed. Children with autistic spectrum disorders, who are attending school, should have additional specialist support provided according to their needs.

Departmental Contracts

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many contracts his Department holds with  (a) Capita plc. and  (b) its subsidiaries which still have a potential duration of five years or more.

Bill Rammell: A complete answer to this question could be supplied only at disproportionate cost. I can tell you, however, that the Department holds the following Capita contracts with a potential duration of five or more years:
	Teachers' Pensions Administration from 2003 to 2010
	Connexions Card from 2002 to 2008
	National Strategies 2005 to 2010

Disability Awareness

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will  (a) include disability awareness within the school curriculum and  (b) take steps to encourage disability awareness in out of school hours activities; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Through the personal, social and health education (PSHE) framework, pupils are taught to identify and respect the differences between people, including disability. Pupils are taught about the effects of all types of stereotyping and discrimination, how to challenge them assertively and ways of working cooperatively with a range of people who are different from themselves. Through citizenship education pupils are taught about legal and human rights and responsibilities. They will learn how the law and concept of human rights underpin society and affect the relationship between the state and the individual.
	We have also committed significant funding up to 2008 to support all schools in providing access to a range of extended services and activities. We have set out a core offer of extended services that we want all children to be able to access through schools by 2010. We have provided guidance to schools, local authorities and other providers which makes clear that children with disabilities and special educational needs must be able to access all the services

Education Maintenance Allowance

Robert Marshall-Andrews: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will take steps to allow young people in full-time education to receive the education maintenance allowance while carrying out voluntary work.

Parmjit Dhanda: holding answer 8 June 2006
	Young people in full-time education receive EMA when they have attended all the sessions for which they are required, and will not receive a weekly payment if they fail to attend. EMA is based on a "something for something" approach. Therefore, the general principle is that if the activity, for example volunteering, forms part of the young person's learning agreement EMA may be paid, if not, EMA will not be paid.

Free Tuition

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what initial assessment he has made of the impact of the level 2 entitlement for free tuition as announced in the White Paper, 21st Century Skills; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: During 2004/05 the level 2 entitlement was trialled in the north east and south east regions. The Learning and Skills Development Agency, on behalf of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), produced an early report in January 2005 entitled, 'An early assessment of the impact of the Level 2 offer.' In March 2006 the Adult Learning Inspectorate completed a short report entitled, 'Evaluation of the Level 2 entitlement.' Both documents have been used to help shape the national LSC's communication strategy with the regions prior to the national availability of the entitlement from September 2006.

Information and Communication Technology

Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what aspects of information and communication technology the personalised learning review group will examine as part of its work; whether the review group will look at mobile and other wireless technology; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The Teaching and Learning in 2020 Review will consider the potential of all aspects of ICT to facilitate personalised learning including, for example, its impact on teaching and learning strategies, on access to learning, on communication with parents and on schools' use of data. The Review Group will draw on a wide range of evidence and examples of best practice, including submissions commissioned from experts in this field.

Lecturers' Dispute

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he has taken to ensure that students'  (a) graduations and  (b) immediate job prospects are not affected by the industrial dispute between lecturers and universities; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: Although this dispute was between universities and trade unions, I have kept closely in touch with both sides throughout its progress and consistently urged that the dispute be urgently resolved and the impact on students lifted.
	I welcome the agreement reached between the HE employers and unions, on pay, and the immediate suspension of the University and College Union's industrial action. This is good news for staff and students alike. I expect that institutions and staff will work hard to ensure that every student gets their marks and the opportunity to graduate in good time. The employers and UCU have agreed to work together to ensure a quick return to normal business. I can assure you that we will continue to monitor closely the situation with regard to any residual effects of the dispute.

Serious Case Reviews

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many serious case reviews for children have been carried out; and what guidance his Department issues on  (a) the scrutiny of the full review of the review and  (b) the single agency contributions to the review by elected representatives on the relevant social services authority.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 9 May 2006
	The Child Protection database, maintained by the Commission for Social Care Inspection, indicates that 78 cases from 2003-04 were the subject of a Serious Case Review (SCR), while 82 cases from 2004-05 were the subject of a SCR. The data for 2005-2006 is not yet complete.
	Guidance on these issues is contained in 'Working Together to Safeguard Children', which includes guidance on the role and functions of local safeguarding children boards (LSCBs). One of the core functions of LSCBs is to undertake SCRs. Chapter 8 of 'Working Together' sets out how and when SCRs should be undertaken. This includes specifying how the relevant services should undertake separate management reviews, and how the LSCB should commission an overview report which brings together and analyses the findings. 'Working Together' states that the LSCB should consider carefully who might have an interest in reviews, for example, elected and appointed members of authorities, and what information should be made available to each of these interests, considering a number of factors including the need to maintain confidentiality in respect of personal information, and the accountability of public services. In all cases there is a public executive summary.
	'Working Together' also states that LSCBs should have clear work programmes, including measurable objectives, and budgets. This will enable LSCBs' work to be scrutinised by local authorities, other local partners and key stakeholders as well as by the inspectorates. Elected members' role, through their membership of governance bodies such as the cabinet of the local authority or a scrutiny committee or a governance board, is to hold their organisation and its officers to account for their contribution to the effective functioning of the LSCB. The lead member for children's services within the local authority will have a particular focus on how the local authority is fulfilling its responsibilities to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and will hold the director of children services to account for the work of the LSCB.

Student Finance

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was raised through tuition fees from students in the London borough of Havering in  (a) 1998,  (b) 1999,  (c) 2000,  (d) 2001 and  (e) 2002.

Bill Rammell: Students on full-time undergraduate courses and their families are expected to make a contribution towards the cost of their tuition based on household income. Students from lower income backgrounds are wholly or partially exempt from paying tuition fees.
	The amount of private contributions to tuition fees by students from the London borough of Havering in academic years 1999/2000 to 2002/03, and also 2003/04 to 2004/05 are given in the table.
	
		
			  Contribution from students paying all or part of their tuition fees 
			  Academic year  £ million 
			 1999/2000 0.6 
			 2000/01 1.1 
			 2001/02 1.3 
			 2002/03 1.4 
			 2003/04 1.5 
			 2004/05 1.7 
			  Source: Student Loans Company (SLC) 
		
	
	Data in the answer cover the period from 1999/2000 to 2004/05. Contributions towards tuition fees of up to £1,000 were introduced in academic year 1998/99 but, as that year was treated as a transitional year, data are not available on the same basis as subsequent years.
	Academic years 1999/2000 and 2000/01 contain two and three cohorts respectively of students subject to the new student support scheme.

Young People in the Workplace

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will discuss problems experienced by young people accessing the workplace  (a) as apprentices,  (b) as young workers under 18 and  (c) on work experience from school and college with representatives of the insurance industry in relation to (i) obtaining insurance and (ii) the level of premiums required, with particular reference to small businesses and sole traders.

Phil Hope: In March 2004 my officials discussed with the Association of British Insurers, insurance issues related to school-age work experience. The ABI confirmed the continuation of the long-standing convention by which school students on placement are considered to be covered by the employers' liability policy, as if they were employees. Generally, insurers make no charge for this insurance, provided they are notified of the placement in advance or have a longer-term agreement that the employer will regularly offer work experience. There should not therefore be premiums to pay which might act as a barrier to the employer's involvement. This is also the case where employers take on apprentices. Further discussions on these questions would be welcome.

Young People in the Workplace

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what Government help is available to train young workers to NVQ Level 2.

Phil Hope: Apprenticeships are the main programme for young employed people seeking vocational qualifications at Level 2 and Level 3. Other opportunities are also being developed, including a pilot programme that started in April this year aimed at encouraging 16 to 18-year-olds in jobs without training to gain a Level 2 qualification, whether academic or vocational. For those over 19 and without either basic skills or a first Level 2 qualification we have put in place the Train to Gain service to deliver high quality flexible qualifications in the workplace.

Afghanistan

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the incident in Helmand province, Afghanistan on 17 May.

Adam Ingram: On 17 May, the Musa Qaleh District Centre in Northern Helmand was attacked by an estimated 150 insurgents. Afghan National Police (ANP) successfully responded to the incident and the insurgents fled further North towards the town of Tisney. The ANP pursued the insurgents, suffering 13 fatalities and approximately ten wounded; UK forces provided medical support to the injured ANP. It is thought that up to 50 insurgents were killed by the Afghan forces, 10 wounded and some equipment (including a 4x4 vehicle) was seized.
	UK forces, along with the ANP and Afghan National Army, have since established a presence in Musa Qualeh to prevent insurgents from returning there, and to help establish the rule of law and aid reconstruction efforts. This has been well received by the local population.

Bearskins

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to use synthetic materials instead of animal fur in the construction of bearskins.

Adam Ingram: There have been a number of contracts let with commercial companies to develop a synthetic replacement for bearskins. There has been a trial of caps made from material provided by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). Problems were identified with these caps which included unsatisfactory performance in typical wet weather conditions. Nonetheless we are continuing to work with PETA to find an alternative and all parties concerned with the trials are taking the search for an alternative to bearskins very seriously.
	If an alternative is sourced and found to be fit for purpose, replacement of bearskins will be considered. This has already happened in a number of cases as, for example, with the "busby cap" used by the Royal Horse Artillery.

Correspondence

Patrick McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Minister of State for Veterans will reply to the letters of 3 March and 27 April from the right hon. Member for West Derbyshire on the civil defence memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum.

Tom Watson: As notified on 24 May 2006, this correspondence was transferred to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and my hon. Friend, the Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Mr. Lammy), subsequently replied on 5 June 2006.

Departmental Pensions

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the pension liability of his Department over the next 30 years.

Tom Watson: I refer the hon. Member to the technical note which was placed in the Library of the House on2 March 2006,  Official Report, columns 388-90W, following an oral statement made by my hon. Friend, the then Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
	As pension liabilities are not estimated for individual Departments, but by the pension scheme, no separate figure is shown for the pension liabilities in respect of Ministry of Defence civil servants.

Pensions

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what percentage of staff in his Department are making additional voluntary contributions to their pension.

Tom Watson: The civilian staff within the Ministry of Defence as members of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS), Teachers' Pensions Scheme, NHS Pensions, UKAEA Principal Non Industrial Superannuation Scheme or Parliamentary Scheme, can pay additional contributions to top up their pension either through the Additional Voluntary Contributions Schemes (AVCS), money purchase arrangements, or by buying added years of service in their pension scheme. As an alternative to membership of the PCSPS recruits from October 2002 have been able to join a stakeholder arrangement, the partnership pension account.
	The number and percentage of civilian staff in the Department who are making additional voluntary contributions to their pension as at April 2006 are shown in the table.
	
		
			   Number  Percentage 
			 AVCS 1,121 1.4 
			 Added years 1,309 1.6 
			 Partnership 28 0.03 
			  Note:Figures exclude trading fund agencies

G8 Summit

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's priorities are for the forthcoming G8 summit inSt. Petersburg; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: The UK is working with the Russian presidency through their chosen priorities of energy security, infectious diseases and education to deliver a successful St. Petersburg summit. The UK is also working with G8 partners at all levels to ensure previous G8 work on Africa and climate change is taken forward.

Rwandan War Criminals

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on her policy on the extradition of suspected Rwandan war criminals.

Kim Howells: There is no general extradition arrangement between the UK and Rwanda. There is, however, provision within the Extradition Act 2003 for Ministers to consider whether the UK might enter into special arrangements where no other extradition arrangement exists. In addition, there is an appropriate legislative basis to ensure that the UK could surrender any individual indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda if they were found to be inthe UK.
	It is UK policy to give due consideration to any such request of an individual for extradition or surrender in light of these arrangements.
	The Government are committed to a policy of no safe haven for those who commit genocide, war crimes or crimes against humanity.

UN Development Fund for Women

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what her Department's position is on the future role of the United Nations Development Fund for Women in the context of United Nations reform.

Gareth Thomas: The UK has been the largest contributor to United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)'s core resources in recent years. We are fully committed to the principles of gender equality and women's empowerment and to providing support for the UN's work on these issues. UNIFEM and other UN agencies recognise that in order to advance better outcomes for women and girls, the UN's work needs to be better organised, more joined up and more effective. The Secretary-General has asked the current high level panel on un systems-wide coherence to assess how this can be achieved. The UK will consider the recommendations of this review in deciding how best we can continue to support the UN system's vital work on gender and women's empowerment.

Bowel Cancer

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many times the bowel cancer treatment working group has met during the past 12 months.

Rosie Winterton: The bowel cancer treatment working group, a sub-group on the bowel cancer advisory group, has not met in the last 12 months. It last met on 22 March 2005.

Choose and Book

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding her Department has allocated for 2006-07 for incentives for general practitioners to use the Choose and Book system.

Ivan Lewis: Revisions to the general medical service (CMS) contract from 1 April 2006-07 include a reward for general practitioner practices, through a directed enhanced service (DES), for utilisation of the choose and book service and for delivering choice to patients.
	The full value of the DES is 96 pence per registered patient. There are approximately 53.3 million registered patients in England. Assuming that every practice in England meets the full requirements of both components of the DES, the value of the DES in 2006-07 could be just over £50 million, which is funded as a relatively small part of the growth in overall resource allocations to primary care trusts.

Dentistry

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) dentists and  (b) dental practices in the East Hull and West Hull primary care trust areas have (i) signed and (ii) not signed the new NHS dental contract.

Rosie Winterton: Information on the number of dentists who have signed the new contract is not available centrally. We do however have some provisional information that covers contracts. A contract may be more than one dentist so cannot be broken down further to individual dentist level.
	
		
			  Provisional management estimates in Eastern Hull primary care trust (PCT) 
			   Number/percentage 
			  Contracts signed  
			 Number 9 
			 Approximate units of dental activity (UDA) value 131,044 
			   
			  Contracts still in discussion  
			 Number 0 
			 Approximate UDA value 0 
			   
			  Contracts rejected  
			 Number 7 
			 Approximate UDA value 1,341 
			 UDAs 1.0 
			   
			  Contacts signed  
			 Number signed without dispute 8 
			 Number signed in dispute 1 
			 Disputes 11.1 
		
	
	
		
			  Provisional management estimates in West Hull PCT 
			   Number/percentage 
			  Contracts signed  
			 Number 16 
			 Approximate UDA value 277,042 
			   
			  Contracts still in discussion  
			 Number 0 
			 Approximate UDA value 0 
			   
			  Contracts rejected  
			 Number 7 
			 Approximate UDA value 23,072 
			 UDAs 7.7 
			   
			  Contracts signed  
			 Number signed without dispute 19 
			 Number signed in dispute 0 
			 Disputes 0 
			  Notes: 1. The information provided is not validated. 2. It represents a snapshot of the position in early April. 
		
	
	PCTs are working with dentists to resolve as many disputes as possible locally.

Medical Centre (Festival Park, North Staffordshire)

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received concerning the decision not to proceed with the proposed out-of-hours medical centre at Festival Park, North Staffordshire; what costs the NHS incurred in relation to the plans; and whether a procedure for not proceeding was included in the contract with Prima200 Ltd.

Rosie Winterton: To date the Department has received one letter about the decision not to proceed with the proposed out-of-hours medical centre at Festival Park.
	It is for the local health community to determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities for improving health, tackling health inequalities and modernising services.
	The Shropshire and Staffordshire Strategic Health Authority (SHA) reports that the national health service has incurred abortive costs of £650,000 in the financial year 2005-06 for the out-of-hours scheme.
	The SHA also reports that the strategic partnering agreement with Prima 200 Limited (Ltd) includes clauses on what happens if a project does not go ahead. Negotiations with Prima 200 Ltd took place within the terms of this agreement.

Ministerial Cars (Fuel Costs)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the fuel costs were for ministerial cars used by her Department in each of the last five years.

Ivan Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Transport (Dr. Ladyman) on 27 April 2006,  Official Report, column 1226W.

NHS Structure

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions she has been requested to involve the Independent Review Panel on questions arising from a proposed change in NHS structure or pattern of service provision since 1997; and on how many occasions she acceded to such a request.

Andy Burnham: To date, there have been 13 referrals from Overview and Scrutiny Committees (OSCs) to the Secretary of State for Health. Two have been referred to the Independent Reconfiguration Panel for advice—East Kent (2002) and Calderdale and Kirklees (2006). Following a referral from Surrey OSC in October 2005, the panel was also asked to assist with the local process to ensure agreement be reached locally between the stakeholders.

Nuchal Fold Scans

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether it is her policy that nuchal fold scans should be available in all NHS trusts;
	(2)  how many NHS trusts carry out nuchal fold scans.

Ivan Lewis: Guidance for the national health service on more accurate tests for Down's syndrome screening was published by the Department on 11 November 2003. The guidance provides a suggested time frame for progress. Nuchal translucency combined with serum tests are performed around 11 to 14 weeks is one of the recommended tests for Down's syndrome screening. The national Down's syndrome screening programme advise that currently almost 25 per cent. of NHS trusts implement this form of screening. The nuchal fold scan performed between 18 to 20 weeks of pregnancy is not currently recommended by the United Kingdom National Screening Committee as an acceptable marker to detect Down's syndrome.

Operation Numbers

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average number of operations performed by a whole-time equivalent surgeon was in 2005-06.

Rosie Winterton: In England, the average number of operations performed by a whole-time equivalent surgeon (defined as (medical) staff in the surgical specialities) in 2004-05 is 490. This is the latest year for which this calculation can be made.
	 Notes:
	1. The number of operations in England in 2004-05 was 9,477,564. Data for 2005-06 is not available.
	2. The number of whole-time equivalent staff in the surgical specialities at 30 September 2005 was 19,337 in England.
	 Sources:
	1. Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The Information Centre for Health and Social Care.
	2. Medical and dental census (30 September 2005), The Information Centre for Health and Social Care.

Overseas Doctors

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultation her Department undertook before introducing changes to visa arrangements for overseas doctors working in the UK; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The immigration rules for permit free training were amended in July 2005 and the implications were discussed with the British Medical Association (BMA), postgraduate deans and overseas doctors groups.
	Departmental officials discussed proposals to amend the regulations further at a meeting in January held by NHS employers which was attended by the Home Office and medical stakeholders, including British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, British International Doctors Association, the BMA and representatives from the national health service.

Patient/Public Involvement (Health)

Richard Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to ensure that  (a) the new bodies that replace patient and public involvement in health forums have sufficient resources and powers to enable them properly to discharge their functions and  (b) there is a smooth and rapid transition to the new bodies to minimise the risk of losing existing expertise.

Rosie Winterton: The expert panel which was established to recommend measures to deliver a stronger voice for patients, services users and the public at all levels in the health and social care system, recently reported its recommendations to ministers in the Department, ministers are considering the recommendations and will announce the Department's decision on the future structures for patient and public involvement shortly.

Physiotherapists

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many unfilled vacancies for physiotherapists there have been in the NHS in each of the last three years.

Rosie Winterton: The number of vacancies for physiotherapists which national health service trusts were actively trying to fill, which had lasted for three months or more (full time equivalents), as at 31 March in each of the last three years is shown in the table.
	
		
			  England 
			   Vacancies 
			 2003 671 
			 2004 626 
			 2005 464

Royal Shrewsbury Hospital

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much central Government funding was made available to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in  (a) 2004 and  (b) 2005.

Rosie Winterton: The Department does not allocate funding to national health service trusts. NHS trusts as providers of services receive the bulk of their revenue funding from commissioning by primary care trusts. They also receive revenue funding from the Department for research and development and from strategic health authorities for medical staff training and other teaching costs. In addition, trusts can charge staff, visitors or patients for services provided, such as catering or provision of private patient facilities.
	Shropshire county primary care trust (PCT) will receive allocations of £331.2 million in 2006-07 and £363.3 million in 2007-08. These represent a cash increase of £59.9 million or 19.7 per cent. over the two years.
	Telford and Wrekin PCT will receive allocations of £187.6 million in 2006-07 and £209.3 million in 2007-08. These represent a cash increase of £41.3 million or £24.5 per cent. over the two years, compared to a national average of 19.5 per cent.
	It is for primary care trusts in partnership with strategic health authorities and other local stakeholders to determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities for improving health, tackling health inequalities and modernising services.

Antisocial Behaviour

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which are the  (a) best and  (b) worst performing councils in England in terms of their ability to take effective action against antisocial behaviour; and if he will make a statement on the performance of Luton borough council in this area.

Tony McNulty: The data is not available in the format requested. Tackling antisocial behaviour involves a multi-agency approach which includes the local police, crime and disorder reduction partnerships as well as local borough councils and other partner authorities. The Government have already provided guidance and support to these local agencies to help them to target resources and powers to protect the public and ensure that anti-social behaviour is tackled, not tolerated.
	There are variations in performance to tackle antisocial behaviour across the country and the Government are determined that public concern about anti-social behaviour is adequately reflected in the priorities of all our services. The Respect Programme will now take this further so that local services are organised so that they respond swiftly and effectively to the problems that communities face today. People need to see and feel that a difference can be made.
	The Government also aims to improve accountability between service providers and the public by giving more power to local communities. The Police and Justice Bill, contains provisions for the community call for action. This is a way for local communities to demand a response from agencies to persistent local community safety or antisocial behaviour problems, via an approach to their ward councillor.

Child Abuse Websites

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to introduce measures to prevent credit card-based access to websites hosting images of child abuse.

Vernon Coaker: The Government created the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) to play a proactive role in protecting children, young people, families and society from paedophiles and sex offenders, particularly those who use the Internet and other new technologies in the sexual exploitation of children. This includes actively bringing together law enforcement with credit card providers as well as other key industry sectors to look at all aspects of online safety and to take proactive steps in preventing and detecting websites hosting images of child sex abuse.
	Home Office is working closely with CEOP, the Department of Constitutional Affairs (DCA) and the Association for Payment Clearing Services to consider how an Order under Schedule 3 of the Data Protection Act may ensure payment card companies can legitimately hold and internally process sensitive data concerning an individual's conviction(s) at court. The practical issues are still being clarified, but the DCA hope to lay an Order shortly. Card issuers usually have the power to remove an individual's payment card once they have been informed of the commission of a relevant offence.

Criminal Records Bureau

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what the average time taken was to process an application to the Criminal Records Bureau for a disclosure in each year since it was established;
	(2)  what the longest time taken was to process an application for a criminal record check in the last year for which figures are available.

Joan Ryan: Data concerning the average time taken to complete a disclosure are not a performance target and are not collated by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). The CRB operates to a set of published service standards (PSS), which are to process 93 per cent. of standard disclosure applications within two weeks and 90 per cent. of enhanced disclosure applications within four weeks. The service standards are published on the CRB website, www.crb.gov.uk.
	The longest time taken to process an application within the last year from receipt of the application to despatch of the criminal record check was 11 months. This was not a straightforward case and it required interaction with the registered body throughout the process: the application form was incomplete; there were three police forces involved in the local intelligence checking and the Police National Computer (PNC) found alias details pertaining to the applicant which he had failed to declare on his form. On occasions such as this it is necessary to recheck these details against the PNC and the other databases containing details of people who are considered unsuitable to work with children and vulnerable adults. The disclosure was issued on 31 May 2006 and contained a total of six separate convictions.

Criminal Records Bureau

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of the  (a) efficiency and  (b) effectiveness of the Criminal Records Bureau.

Joan Ryan: The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) publishes an annual report and accounts which is presented to Parliament pursuant to section 7 of the Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000. The annual report and accounts provides, among other things, analysis on the CRB's performance and its operating costs and balance sheet for the financial year. Copies of the CRB annual report and accounts 2004-05 were placed in the Library and a copy may be downloaded from the CRB's website www.crb.gov.uk. The bureau's management board, which includes a senior Home Office official, also regularly reviews issues concerning efficiency and effectiveness and the Chief Executive provides regular reports to Ministers on performance. The CRB's published service standards (PSS) are to issue 93 per cent. of Standard Disclosures within 14 days and 90 per cent. of enhanced disclosures within 28 days. The CRB is currently issuing 99.7 per cent. of standard disclosures within PSS, and 88.6 per cent. of enhanced disclosures within PSS. More organisations than ever before have access to the CRB's disclosure service and this expansion clearly demonstrates the Government's confidence in the CRB and its ability to deal with growing volumes in a timely and effective manner. Furthermore, a CRB-commissioned MORI survey has also shown that customer satisfaction levels are at an all time high, reflecting the year-on-year improvements that the CRB has made. The independent research has also shown that the CRB is making a difference to the protection of children and the vulnerable. In 2005, some 25,000 unsuitable people were prevented from gaining access to children or the vulnerable, as a direct result of CRB checks. Many more unsuitable people are deterred from applying to work with children and the vulnerable as a direct result of a requirement for a CRB check.

Dangerous Dogs Act

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many people who reside in  (a) Southend on Sea and  (b) Essex have been prosecuted under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 in each year since it was enacted;
	(2)  how many dangerous dogs have been destroyed in  (a) Southend,  (b) Essex,  (c) Hertfordshire,  (d) the Metropolitan police area of London and  (e) England and Wales in each year since 1996.

Tony McNulty: The table shows figures for prosecutions under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 in south east Essex and Essex since 1992. Figures for 2005 will be available in the autumn of 2006. Information on the number of dangerous dogs destroyed is not collected centrally by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform or DEFRA.
	
		
			  Defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 in South East Essex and in the Essex police force area, 1992 to 2004 
			  Offence description  Statute  1992( 2)  1993  1994  1995  1996  1997 
			  South East Essex Criminal Justice Area
			 Breeding or breeding from a fighting dog Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 1(2)(a) 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Selling, exchanging, offering, advertising or exposing for sale a fighting dog. Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 1(2)(b) 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Giving or offering to give a fighting dog Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 1(2)(c) 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Allowing a fighting dog to be in a public place without a muzzle or a lead. Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 1(2)(d) 0 0 0 1 0 0 
			 Abandoning, or allowing to stray, a fighting dog Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 1(2)(e) 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Possession, without exemption, of a Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa or other designated fighting dog Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 1(3) 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Owner or person in charge allowing dog to be dangerously out of control in a public place, no injury being caused Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 3( 1 ) 3 1 0 1 0 1 
			 Owner or person in charge allowing dog to be dangerously out of control in a public place injuring any person Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 3(1) 5 4 3 3 6 1 
			 Owner or person in charge allowing dog to enter a non- public place causing reasonable apprehension of injury to a person Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 3(3) 1 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Owner or person in charge allowing dog to enter a non-public place and injure any person Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 3(3) 1 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Failing to give up a dog for destruction or having custody of a dog while disqualified Badgers (further protection) Act 1991 Sec. 1. Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 4(8), Protection of Badgers Act 1992 Sec. 13. 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Total  10 5 3 5 7 2 
		
	
	
		
			  Offence description  Statute  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004 
			  South East Essex Criminal Justice Area 
			 Breeding or breeding from a fighting dog Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 1(2)(a) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Selling, exchanging, offering, advertising or exposing for sale a fighting dog. Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 1(2)(b) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Giving or offering to give a fighting dog Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 1(2)(c) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Allowing a fighting dog to be in a public place without a muzzle or a lead. Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 1(2)(d) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Abandoning, or allowing to stray, a fighting dog Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 1(2)(e) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Possession, without exemption, of a Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa or other designated fighting dog Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 1(3) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Owner or person in charge allowing dog to be dangerously out of control in a public place, no injury being caused Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 3( 1 ) 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Owner or person in charge allowing dog to be dangerously out of control in a public place injuring any person Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 3(1) 4 3 2 1 3 2 2 
			 Owner or person in charge allowing dog to enter a non- public place causing reasonable apprehension of injury to a person Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 3(3) 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Owner or person in charge allowing dog to enter a non-public place and injure any person Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 3(3) 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Failing to give up a dog for destruction or having custody of a dog while disqualified Badgers (further protection) Act 1991 Sec. 1. Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 4(8), Protection of Badgers Act 1992 Sec. 13. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Total  8 4 2 1 3 3 2 
		
	
	
		
			  Offence description  Statute  1992( 2)  1993  1994  1995  1996  1997 
			  Essex
			 Breeding or breeding from a fighting dog Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 1(2)(a) 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Selling, exchanging, offering, advertising or exposing for sale a fighting dog. Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 1(2)(b) 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Giving or offering to give a fighting dog Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 1(2)(c) 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Allowing a fighting dog to be in a public place without a muzzle or a lead. Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 1(2)(d) 1 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Abandoning, or allowing to stray, a fighting dog Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 1(2)(e) 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Possession, without exemption, of a Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa or other designated fighting dog Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 1(3) 3 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Owner or person in charge allowing dog to be dangerously out of control in a public place, no injury being caused Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 3( 1 ) 11 12 5 6 3 5 
			 Owner or person in charge allowing dog to be dangerously out of control in a public place injuring any person Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 3(1) 10 6 11 3 20 9 
			 Owner or person in charge allowing dog to enter a non- public place causing reasonable apprehension of injury to a person Dangerous Dogs Act 1991Sec 3(3) 2 0 0 1 0 0 
			 Owner or person in charge allowing dog to enter a non-public place and injure any person Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 3(3) 1 3 2 1 2 6 
			 Failing to give up a dog for destruction or having custody of a dog while disqualified Badgers (further protection) Act 1991 Sec. 1. Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 4(8), Protection of Badgers Act 1992 Sec. 13. 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Total  28 21 20 12 25 22 
		
	
	
		
			  Offence description  Statute  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004 
			  Essex 
			 Breeding or breeding from a fighting dog Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 1(2)(a) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Selling, exchanging, offering, advertising or exposing for sale a fighting dog. Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 1(2)(b) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Giving or offering to give a fighting dog Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 1(2)(c) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Allowing a fighting dog to be in a public place without a muzzle or a lead. Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 1(2)(d) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Abandoning, or allowing to stray, a fighting dog Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 1(2)(e) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Possession, without exemption, of a Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa or other designated fighting dog Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 1(3) 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 
			 Owner or person in charge allowing dog to be dangerously out of control in a public place, no injury being caused Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 3( 1 ) 8 16 12 7 17 9 4 
			 Owner or person in charge allowing dog to be dangerously out of control in a public place injuring any person Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 3(1) 15 14 8 9 18 23 8 
			 Owner or person in charge allowing dog to enter a non- public place causing reasonable apprehension of injury to a person Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 3(3) 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 
			 Owner or person in charge allowing dog to enter a non-public place and injure any person Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 3(3) 3 4 6 5 3 1 1 
			 Failing to give up a dog for destruction or having custody of a dog while disqualified Badgers (further protection) Act 1991 Sec. 1. Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 4(8), Protection of Badgers Act 1992 Sec. 13. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Total  27 35 26 21 40 35 13 
			 (1) These data are on the principal offence basis.(2) Offence codes for Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 were introduced to the court proceeding database from 1 January 1992. Source: Office for Criminal Justice Reform

House Burglaries

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many house burglaries were reported in 2005; and how many reports subsequently led to a conviction.

Tony McNulty: There were 304,400 recorded offences of domestic burglary in England and Wales in 2005. It is not possible to identify how many of these led to a conviction. This is because recorded crime deals with offences and court proceedings deals with defendants and the two data sets cannot be directly compared.

Knife Crimes

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been convicted of carrying a knife in a public place in each of the last five years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The table shows the number of convictions in England and Wales for carrying a knife in a public place for the years 2000 to 2004. Data for 2005 will be available in autumn 2006.
	
		
			  Number of offenders found guilty at all courts for carrying of knives—England and Wales, 2000-04( 1) 
			   Offence description 
			   Having an article with blade or point in public place  Having an article with blade or point on school premises( 2) 
			 2000 3,511 18 
			 2001 4,299 23 
			 2002 5,281 19 
			 2003 5,308 29 
			 2004 5,784 37 
			 (1) These data are provided on the principal offence basis.(2) Excludes data provided by West Mercia police force area. Source:Office for Criminal Justice Reform

Partners Against Crime Partnership

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State forthe Home Department pursuant to the answer of24 January 2006,  Official Report, column 2017W, on crime, what plans he has to extend the Partners Against Crime Partnership; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: An evaluation of this initiative, which was set up in partnership by Dyfed-Powys police and the Post Office Ltd. is now complete. The scheme has been a resounding success in Dyfed-Powys police force providing enhanced access to policing services in remote rural communities.
	I understand that local expansion is already under way with further premises in north Pembrokeshire added to the scheme in April this year. Locally, there are discussions with Post Office Ltd. to expand the scheme wider, subject to funding and police force restructuring plans in Wales. I would add that any decision to extend the Partners Against Crime Partnership is for the local police and partners.

Police

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many resignations and retirements of police officers from the Lancashire police force there have been in each year since 1997.

Tony McNulty: Figures for the number of voluntary resignations by police officers are provided in the table. The data does not include officers who are dismissed or required to resign.
	Figures for the numbers of ordinary and medical retirements by police officers are also provided in the table as follows.
	
		
			  Total number of police officer voluntary resignations in Lancashire (1997-2005) 
			  As at 31 March  Voluntary resignations 
			 1997 19 
			 1998 14 
			 1999 12 
			 2000 21 
			 2001 17 
			 2002 40 
			 2003 18 
			 2004 28 
			 2005 44 
		
	
	
		
			  Total number of police officer retirements in Lancashire (1997-2005) 
			   Retirement 
			  As at 31 March  Ordinary  Medical  Total 
			 1997 51 36 87 
			 1998 83 27 110 
			 1999 57 18 75 
			 2000 62 17 79 
			 2001 75 30 105 
			 2002 68 39 107 
			 2003 59 17 76 
			 2004 65 14 79 
			 2005 100 11 111

Prisons

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reasons underlay the decision to reduce the operating margin of the useable operating capacity of the prison estate from 2,000 to 1,700 places; when the decision was taken; and how the 1,700 figure was calculated.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The usable operational capacity of the prison estate is 1,700 spaces less than the certified operational capacity. This operating margin reflects the constraints imposed by the need to provide separate accommodation for different groups of prisoners such as gender, age, security category and conviction status, as well as the necessary provision of single cells, accommodation out of use and the geographical distribution of prisons and prisoners.
	In April 2004, a database was introduced to assist with the management of the prison population. The more accurate information it provides enabled us to reduce the operating margin in stages from 2,000 to 1,700 places. The reduction added 300 places to the useable operating capacity while still maintaining a sufficient operating margin to manage the prison population safely.

Prisons

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the people who have absconded from open prisons in England since 1997 have  (a) been returned to custody and  (b) committed offences after absconding which have led to court appearances; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Forest of Dean (73593) about the numbers of prisoners who remain unlawfully at large having absconded from open prisons. In respect of the request for information about court appearances for offences committed by prisoners now recaptured while unlawfully at large, this information is not held centrally by the Prison Service. It would be necessary to interrogate each prisoner's record and cross check with police and court conviction records which could be done only at disproportionate cost.

Prisons

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what factors are taken into account when a decision is made to hold prisoners who are awaiting deportation or being considered for deportation in open prisons.

Gerry Sutcliffe: All prisoners are categorised objectively according to the likelihood that they will seek to escape and the risk that they would pose should they do so. The likelihood of deportation must be taken into account when considering foreign national prisoners allocation to open conditions.

Probation Service

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences were committed by offenders under the supervision of the Probation Service during 2005-06.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Information is not routinely collected in the form requested.
	Data on crimes that are categorised as serious offences committed by offenders under the supervision of the Probation Service is available for the financial year 2004-05 in Table 5.6 of the Home Office Statistical Bulletin "Offender Management Caseload Statistics 2004".
	This report is available at: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/hosb1705.pdf

Probation Service

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many probation officers were employed by the Probation Service in each of the last five years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Information is not available for the full period requested. Data collected prior to one April 2003 is unreliable, and is not directly comparable with the more accurate figures collected since that time. The figures presented in the table show full-time equivalent (FTE) figures at the close of each quarter from one April 2003 to 31 December 2005.
	
		
			Probation officers( 1) 
			 2003-04 Quarter 1 5,831.10 
			  Quarter 2 5,937.84 
			  Quarter 3 6,271.45 
			  Quarter 4 6,285.43 
			
			 2004-05 Quarter 1 6,257.32 
			  Quarter 2 6,376.48 
			  Quarter 3 6,584.94 
			  Quarter 4 6,566.63 
			
			 2005-06 Quarter 1 6,469.84 
			  Quarter 2 6,529.41 
			  Quarter 3 6,894.36 
			 (1) The 'Probation Officers' category includes the senior probation officer, senior practitioner, and probation officer job groups. Trainee probation officers have been excluded from these figures.

Biodiversity

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs which Minister in her Department is responsible for monitoring her Department's compliance with its duty under section 74 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 to have regard to the purpose of conserving biological diversity in carrying out its functions; and if she will make a statement.

Vera Baird: The Minister for the Department for Constitutional Affairs responsible for maintaining compliance under section 74 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 74 is Baroness Ashton of Upholland.

Compensation Bill [Lords]

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will introduce new clauses and amendments to the Compensation Bill [Lords] to exempt  (a) accidents occurring during the course of employment from Clause 1 of the Bill and  (b) trades union legal schemes from Part 2 of the Bill; and if she will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: The Government do not intend to introduce
	amendments on either of these issues. In relation to  (a), the factor embodied in Clause 1 may be relevant in employers' liability cases, and it would change the law to provide otherwise. In relation to  (b), exemptions will be achieved by secondary legislation. Independent trade unions (certified by the certification officer) will be exempted in respect of regulated services offered to their own members.

Electoral Registration

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what estimate her Department has made of the number of  (a) failed asylum seekers and  (b) foreign nationals not from the Commonwealth or Irish Republic who are fraudulently on the electoral register.

Bridget Prentice: This information is not collected. Electoral registers are available for public inspection and anyone who believes that an ineligible person has been included may notify the ERO who may then make further inquiries as to the eligibility of that individual. Currently, it is an offence to fail to supply information to the ERO and knowingly supply false information on the annual canvass form. The Electoral Administration Bill, currently under consideration, strengthens the objection process and creates a new offence of supplying false information of any kind to an ERO, or failing to supply information, in connection with registration, at any time. The electoral register does not specify the immigration or asylum status of individuals entered on it; however, the addition of a "nationality" box in the registration form does provide an opportunity for EROs to determine the eligibility of an applicant for inclusion in the register on the basis of their stated nationality.

Electoral Registration

John Spellar: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to the answer of 18 April 2006,  Official Report, column 43W, on electoral registration officers, what estimate her Department has made of the cost of writing to each electoral registration officer to obtain the information on prosecutions brought for failing to return an electoral registration form.

Bridget Prentice: To obtain such information by writing to electoral registration officers (EROs) would exceed the threshold of 600 set for parliamentary questions. Furthermore, any records kept by EROs locally at their discretion would not necessarily distinguish between the costs of prosecutions brought specifically for failing to return an electoral registration form and the cost of any prosecutions brought for other electoral offences.

Legal Aid

Mark Oaten: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many claims for legal aid were  (a) rejected and  (b) successful in (i) England and (ii) Winchester in each of the last three years; and if she will make a statement.

Vera Baird: Legal aid is administered by the Legal Services Commission (LSC) for both England and Wales combined. The following tables therefore include information for both England and Wales, as compared to Winchester.
	For civil matters, the LSC records figures for applications received for legal aid and certificates issued. The following table shows the applications; received and the certificates awarded for civil legal aid in Winchester, and England and Wales for each of the three previous years.
	
		
			  Winchester  England and Wales 
			   Applications received  Certificates issued  Applications received  Certificates issued 
			 2005-06 374 316 194,788 156,164 
			 2004-05 380 324 193,305 155,464 
			 2003-04 379 300 205,122 160,998 
			  Notes: Care should be taken not to confuse the certificates issued in any year as only relating to applications made in the same year. Certificates issued may relate to applications made in previous years. Additionally, certificates may not be issued following applications for a variety of reasons such as; the application being withdrawn or the matter abandoned by the applicant, as well as being rejected. 
		
	
	For criminal matters, the vast majority of legal aid applications are made in the magistrates court. However, Winchester does not have one.
	The following table shows the number of applications granted and refused in Winchester Crown court for representation in the Crown court, compared to all Crown court locations in England and Wales(1).
	(1) These figures include a small number of applications granted in the magistrates court and extended by the Crown court.
	
		
			   Winchester Crown court  Crown courts in England and Wales 
			   Applications granted  Applications refused  Applications granted  Applications refused 
			 2005-06 210 1 12,777 225 
			 2004-05 239 1 12,098 223 
			 2003-04 180 1 11,675 229 
		
	
	The number of legal aid applications for any specified geographical area should not be misinterpreted as being representative of the number of people within that area. The figures relate to the location of the court for criminal matters, and the location of the supplier for civil matters, For criminal matters it is possible for people from outside a specified location to have their applications decided by courts within it and vice versa. For civil matters, it is possible for people from outside a specified area to receive legal aid by suppliers within that area and vice versa.

Legal Aid

Anne Milton: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many applications for legal aid have been  (a) made and  (b) refused in each year since 1997.

Vera Baird: The following table gives information on applications for representation. Central records are not kept for matters such as civil legal help or criminal advice and assistance as the decision whether to grant legal aid is taken by the service supplier, not the Legal Services Commission (LSC).
	
		
			   1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02 
			  Civil representation( 1)  
			 Applications received 434,136 412,954 342,813 226,104 205,821 
			 Certificates issued 319,432 295,872 245,800 174,017 161,988 
			  Crown court representation  
			 Applications received 12,770 12,862 10,571 12,827 12,004 
			 Applications granted 12,562 12,628 10,381 12,537 11,828 
			 Applications rejected 208 234 190 290 176 
			  Magistrates courts representation( 2)  
			 Applications received n/a(3) n/a(3) n/a(3) 563,002 664,448 
			 Applications granted n/a(3) n/a(3) n/a(3) 530,622 633,944 
			 Applications rejected n/a(3) n/a(3) n/a(3) 32,380 30,504 
		
	
	
		
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06 
			  Civil representation( 1) 
			 Applications received 211,723 205,122 193,305 194,788 
			 Certificates issued 164,193 160,998 155,464 155,164 
			  Crown court representation 
			 Applications received 10,962 11,904 12,321 13,002 
			 Applications granted 10,759 11,675 12,098 12,777 
			 Applications rejected 203 229 223 225 
			  Magistrates courts representation( 2) 
			 Applications received 704,819 705,635 670,102 700,292 
			 Applications granted 672,092 669,853 635,648 664,912 
			 Applications rejected 32,727 35,782 34,454 35,380 
			 (1)Before 2000, the Legal Aid Board administered legal aid. For civil matters, the LSC now records figures for applications received and certificates issued. Care should be taken not to confuse the certificates issued in any year as only relating to applications made in the same year. Additionally, certificates may not be issued following applications for a variety of reasons, such as the application being withdrawn or the matter abandoned by the applicant, as well as being refused.(2) These figures are estimates based on returns submitted by magistrates courts.(3) The information is not available.

Small Change Big Difference Campaign

Anne Milton: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps her Department has taken following the launch of the Government's Small Change Big Difference Campaign.

Bridget Prentice: Over the past year the Department has been engaged in, and developing, several activities that support this initiative. There has been a series of articles produced for the in-house magazine on a range of health topics, including diabetes and migraine, and more are planned including ones on healthy living and exercise. The Department runs stress courses to offer tips and strategies for managing stress. The occupational welfare team provides a range of information on health issues. The Department is also working towards implementation of the smoking ban in line with the impending legislation and, through the welfare team, has committed to provide information and support to those wishing to give up, both in the run up to and after implementation. As the programme of work on this initiative develops the Department of Health will be working across all of Government to ensure the programme joins up to promote maximum impact. DH is leading the implementation for the initiative as part of its cross-government commitment to deliver the public health "White Paper Choosing Health".